NEW YORK, Feb 21 (Reuters Health) -- The rate of gonorrhea in London has
increased by nearly 35% over the past 2 years, researchers report.
The increase in rates of this sexually transmitted disease has been noted
in both men and women, and in both heterosexual and homosexual populations.
According to a letter in the February 19 issue of the British journal The
Lancet, gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial
infections in England and Wales, "therefore, any increase of this magnitude in
cases should be of concern," write Dr. I.M.C. Martin and colleagues with
Imperial College School of Medicine in London.
The team of researchers compared rates of gonorrhea in 13 clinics in the
London area over the same 3-month period from 1997 to 1999. Rates of gonorrhea
rose about 12% between 1997 - 1998 and about 20% between 1998 - 1999, the study
found, indicating a reversal in decreasing rates of the disease since the early
1990s.
Among women, the highest rates were seen among 16 - 19 year olds and among
men, the highest rates were found in the 25 - 34 years age group.
The authors call on public health officials to continue to survey the
population for the disease, inform those who become infected about appropriate
therapies, and control the rising incidence of the infection.
