Sexual diseases on the rise

14 October 2004

BRUSSELS – A recent medical study has shown that sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise among Belgian young people.

The study by the Scientific Institute of Public Health (ISP) tracked cases of diseases such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Genital Herpes and Condylomes, La Derniere Heure newspaper reprted on Thursday.

Chlamydia has proven to be the biggest STD to affect women between 2000 and 2004.

Patients are usually young, with an average age of 27, and a rise in cases was noted from 2001, especially in the 15 to 24 age group.

Most of the patients, male and female, are heterosexual.

A rise in cases of Gonorrhea has been recorded especially among men, in particular homosexuals.

ISP staff have recommended that an HIV test should be offered to this group as soon as there is any sign of sexual disease.

There has been an explosion of syphilis among men and it is the disease most frequently reported to the ISP.

Syphilis most affects homosexual and bisexual men in Antwerp and Brussels and the ISP has concluded it may be down to lax attitudes towards contraception.

Genital herpes affects mainly women in the 20 to 35 age group.

And finally, condylomes – fungal growths – affect both men and women equally.

There is, however, a noticeable difference in average ages for the disease, standing at 28 for women and 36 for men.

Subject: Belgian news