The epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific
Thirumoorthy, T.
Seminars in Dermatology 9(2): 102-104
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0278-145X PMID: 2117964 Document Number: 355437
In incidence and epidemiology of sexually transmitted disease (STD)s in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, with gonorrhea, chancroid, nongonococcal urethritis, syphilis, genital herpes and genital warts at the forefront, are reviewed. The bacterial STDs gonorrhea, chancroid and syphilis are the major problems. Gonorrhea is the most prevalent STD in the region, with a high incidence of chromosomally-mediated resistant and penicillinase-producing strains comprising 35-53% of isolates. Clinical treatment failures due to spectinomycin-resistant gonococci are reported as increasing. Uncontrolled antibiotic sales are blamed for these resistant strains. Syphilis has declined in the 1950s, but has re-emerged. Chancroid is declining, while herpes is making up a greater share of ulcer disease. nongonococcal genital infection and chlamydia are thought to be the 2nd most common infection, however most centers do not have the facilities to isolate chlamydia. Genital warts are becoming a common cause for attendance at STD clinics and are a concern for cervical cancer. Prostitutes are most often cited as the source of male STD infection. The anonymity and large number of contacts of the sex industry, and high mobility of the indigenous population and of tourists are considered central in STD transmission. The high incidence of STDs in this area is a harbinger of future trends of HIV/AIDS in Asia.