Medicus, Vol. 12 No. 2_Spolne bolesti, 2003.
Review article
Epidemiological Characteristics of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Croatia
Borislav Aleraj
Abstract
Epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases
is substantially determined by relatively low persistence
of microbial causative agents in the environment.
Thus, an intense and intimate contact, as sexual contact, is
needed for a person to person transfer of infection. Other
possibilities are parenteral and transplacental modes. Owing
to high standard interdisciplinary medical work on the implementation
of national health measures, as well as to generally
positive, humane attitude towards this group of illnesses,
the STD situation in Croatia is relatively favorable. Classical
venereal diseases, syphilis and gonorrhea, are rare and
sporadic, AIDS and HIV infection are under control, keeping
low incidence trends. Today’s priorities are relatively frequent
urogenital chlamydiasis, viral STD (HPV) and nonspecific urogenital
inflammatory diseases. Scientific and practical challenge
is in better assessment of importance of asymptomatic
infections for latter development of serious consequences
like malignant diseases, infertility, chronic inflammatory disorders
etc, and, connected with that, finding rational criteria
for antimicrobial treatment of asymptomatic cases. Having in
mind the fact that sexual contact is one of the most frequent
and common human contacts, STDs will permanently occur
in human population, especially those with accessory routes
of transmission, like common urinary infections.
Keywords
morbidity; sexually transmitted diseases; epidemiology
Hrčak ID:
20538
URI
Publication date:
7.10.2003.
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