Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) cause a greater health risk and economic burden to the masses. Millions of people are infected with this problem every year. In 1995, STDs were accounted for to be around 87 percent of all cases among the main ten illnesses in the USA.
Now, the years have passed, but not much change is there. The rates of STDs are quietly skyrocketing, especially during these challenging times of the pandemic. People are refraining themselves from going to hospitals for checkups due to the risk of infection. With this, very few people get tested and treated during corona times.
The STD Infection
When a person comes in contact with STDs, he/she starts feeling troubling changes in their bodies. It includes a burning sensation while peeing, painless, but firm rashes and sores on the skin. While some people are infected yet, they do not see any of these symptoms.
Whether people believe it or not, but most of the victims of Sexually Transmitted Diseases also suffer from diseases like syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc. These people must go through screening to prevent them from spreading the infection, knowing or unknowingly to other people.
People who are prone to developing an infection due to sexual contact or needle-sharing must go for checkups. They need a proper test for STDs and HIV. If they turn out to be positive, they must admit themselves to the health care center for proper treatment. If the treatment is left unchecked, it can lead to issues like infertility or even death.
How Does It Spread?
STDs always spread from one person to another person through sexual intercourse. They spread mainly from anal and vaginal intercourse, and less from oral intercourse. Some other blood-borne pathogens like hepatitis B virus, Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I, and HIV can spread through genes as well.
Children usually inherit this infection from their parents and then have to live along with it for the whole life. Similarly, pregnant women with STDs can pass this infection to the infants while they are still in their womb, during the birth of the baby, or while breastfeeding.
The Corona Impact
These days the main issue is that most of the public health departments deal with the coronavirus treatment. They are not available to pay due attention to diseases like STDs and HIV. However, if not taken care of, the negligence poses greater risks to the sexual health of the larger audience.
The rates of STD are increasing every day, and if the situation remains the same, we would have to deal with a big health issue and economic burden in the coming years. The issue deserves national attention.