Cases of chlamydia nearly double
By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Health Writer
Chlamydia — a sexually transmitted disease that can cause infertility in women — is rising sharply in Hawai'i.
While the number of reported cases fluctuates markedly from year to year, state Health Department figures show that the number of reported cases of chlamydia in Hawai'i nearly doubled from 1,797 cases in 1997 to 3,567 cases in 2000.
The increase is partly due to better screening, but Department of Health experts also believe people — particularly youth — are engaging in more risky sexual behavior that exposes them to the disease.
Hawai'i has surpassed the national rate, according to Health Trends Hawai'i, a biannual profile of the state's healthcare system produced by the Hawai'i Health Information Corp. for the HMSA Foundation.
"We are definitely on an upward trend," said Peter Whiticar, chief of the Health Department's STD/AIDS Prevention branch. What is noticeable about the disease is it strikes mostly young women. About three females are diagnosed for every male. And in the 2001 reporting year, 66 percent of the cases were in patients 24 years and under. The 15-19 age group accounted for 25 percent.
Ursula Penrose, director of patient services for Planned Parenthood of Hawai'i, describes the trend as "worrisome."
"Chlamydia is one of those sexually transmitted infections that is silent and a woman may not have symptoms for some time until it's had a chance to what we call 'ascend' and get up into her reproductive system and cause some serious damage — it can ultimately cause infertility," Penrose said.
Whiticar said the good news in the growing numbers is that the state is identifying more people and getting them the treatment they need. In 1998, the department introduced a more sensitive test that can detect the disease earlier in women. There also is a new urine test that makes diagnosis easier in men.
The department provides free services for screening and treatment and also works with private services to reach those who are most at-risk.
But Whiticar said much more needs to be done.
"What this really points out is there are young women and probably young men in our state that are having unprotected sex and putting themselves at risk not only for chlamydia, but for gonorrhea, potentially for syphilis . . . and ultimately for HIV," Whiticar said.
"What this tells us is we really need to be proactive in our school system, in our families, in our communities in really recognizing that young women are putting themselves at risk and we need to talk openly about this."
One of the difficulties in fighting the disease is that it can spread easily because people are often not aware they have it.
Though little known to the public, chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the nation. The symptoms for men and women include a clear or milky-white genital discharge, and sometimes pain or tingling, but the disease is often without symptoms.
When diagnosed, chlamydia is easily treated and cured. Untreated, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility.
Reach Alice Keesing at akeesing@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.
