Return to the PIE Home PageAccording to the Columbus Health Department, three of the STDs with the most severe health implications, including cost of treatment, are chlamydia, gonorrhea and genital warts. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are also two of the most common STDs in Columbus. The number of newly reported cases of chlamydia (2,267) and gonorrhea (1,480) decreased dramatically in 1996. Chlamydia cases decreased 60.1% and gonorrhea cases decreased 64.4% from 1995 totals. Newly reported cases of genital warts have declined in each of the last four years, dropping to 536 in 1996, after reaching a high of 1,172 in 1992. Genital Warts and Herpes are the most prevalent viral STDs. Another category of STD cases is nonspecific urethritis. In 1996, cases of nonspecific urethritis declined 23.0%, from 2,419 in 1995 to 1,862 in 1996.
According to the Columbus Health Department's March 1994 "Community Health Assessment", significant illness and injury is associated with STDs, especially for younger populations. The most serious consequences of STDs (excluding HIV/AIDS and mortality) include: pelvic inflammatory disease, sterility, ectopic pregnancy, blindness, cancer associated with human papillomavirus, fetal and infant death, birth defects and mental retardation.
The Health Department identifies five ways to prevent STDs: reduce or eliminate crack/cocaine use; abstinence, safer sex and the proper use of latex condoms; affordable, accessible treatment for STDs; partner notification; and education. The Columbus Health Department STD Clinic continues to be the largest free clinic in the state.
Newly reported STD figure is not a count of the number of individuals with STDs. The Ohio Department of Health estimates that new STD cases represent from two-thirds to three-quarters of all STD cases. STDs are identified by lab test results, and individuals who test positive for more than one disease are counted as multiple cases.
Type of Disease 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 Syphilis 103 64 50 36 31 Gonorrhea 5,201 5,386 5,412 5,595 5,060 Chlamydia 1,098 1,285 2,699 4,756 4,835 Herpes Genitalia 349 380 551 758 599 Trichomoniasis 796 1,202 1,187 1,181 1,000 Genital Warts 598 911 672 708 568 Pediculosis 354 603 756 973 733 Scabies 29 120 94 96 35 Nonspec Urethritis 2,418 5,204 5,055 7,203 3,855 Totals 10,946 15,155 16,476 21,306 16,716 Type of Disease 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Syphilis 53 208 155 74 70 Gonorrhea 5,457 6,054 5,394 3,721 3,119 Chlamydia 7,250 8,786 6,829 5,418 5,198 Herpes Genitalia 721 1,089 379 574 456 Trichomoniasis 928 920 275 569 601 Genital Warts 710 632 447 1,172 1,074 Pediculosis 677 692 163 410 264 Scabies 32 55 38 78 55 Nonspec Urethritis 3,113 3,562 2,277 2,636 2,713 Totals 18,941 21,998 15,957 15,957 13,550 Type of Disease 1994 1995 1996 Syphilis 21 20 76 Gonorrhea 4,009 4,158 1,480 Chlamydia 5,380 5,675 2,267 Herpes Genitalia 411 350 381 Trichomoniasis NA 621 564 Genital Warts 808 703 536 Pediculosis NA 246 180 Scabies NA 45 49 Nonspec Urethritis 1,902 2,419 1,862 Totals NA 16,457 7,395
Source: Ohio Department of Health, Sexually Transmitted Disease Morbidity Report
Note: The data represented for 1996 is for January through November.
Filename: SI-021