Health-Care Professionals

Trends in Epidemiology of STIs

Trends in the Epidemiology of STIs in Canada

Disease	Prevalence
Chlamydia(CT)	Common
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)	Common
Genital Herpes	Common
HPV/Genital Warts/Cervical CA	Common
Gonorrhea (GC)	No longer common
Hepatitis A (HAV)	Moderate
Hepatitis B (HBV)	Low to moderate
HIV	Low to moderate
Syphilis	Now rare
Chancroid	Exceedingly rare
Granuloma inguinale	Exceedingly rare

This allows for timely interventions to treat and manage infected individuals to reduce or eliminate transmission of STIs. Incorporating these strategies into daily practice is essential if a physician hopes to have a lasting effect on controlling STI in his or her patients and community.

Active case finding through routine screening of sexually active patients and especially those identified with high-risk core groups is an essential first step. Physicians should be aware that patients in the 16-24 year old age group have the highest incidence of STIs.