Tripper, syphilis and co on the rise

Tripper, syphilis and consorts on the rise

11/10/2013

Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise again in Europe. Tripper, syphilis and consorts are almost comebacking. Nevertheless, experts are against the tightening of the prostitution law, because it could aggravate the situation.

HIV infections remain constant
The German Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (DSTIG) recently warned against a comeback of sexually transmitted diseases at a conference. However, after a decline in the HIV epidemic and an average of 3,000 new HIV infections per year, there has been an increase in the incidence of other diseases transmitted through sexual contact for about ten years. Not only is there a return to the venereal disease syphilis, but gonorrhea or chlamydia are increasingly being diagnosed.

Increase due to missing condoms
For the increase in the disease experts see the lack of protective measures, such as the use of condoms during sex. Therefore, an unprejudiced and not stigmatizing treatment of sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases is of great importance. Coercive measures would not solve the problem. This would also have shown how to deal with AIDS in many countries. As a result, all nations that attempted to stem HIV infection by such measures have seen dramatic increases in infections.

Europe-wide increase
In general, the numbers of new infections with sexually transmitted diseases are increasing across Europe. The DSTIG assumes around 80,000 infections with human papillomaviruses per year. The viruses can cause cervical cancer. However, girls between the ages of 12 and 17 can be vaccinated against it. About 100,000 bacterial infections with chlamydia occur according to the DSTIG also per year in Germany. The bacteria can cause infertility in both men and women.

Infections in younger people in sexual identification phase
And as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) informs, there was also an increase in cases of syphilis. Nationwide, 19 percent more infections were registered in 2012 - a total of 4410 diseases - than in the previous year. In four out of five cases, sexual transmission has been reported to have been transmitted between men. According to the RKI, the number of contagion infections among prostitutes has remained constant. „Here, too, we have to look at risk behavior and not have a mundane debate about prostitution. "According to DSTIG President Brockmeyer, infections were also observed in swinger clubs, with an increase in infections, especially among young adults in their sexual identification phase become.

Signs of syphilis infection
Possible signs of syphilis infection are reddish ulcers on the genitals or where the pathogens could invade the organism. In the early stages, these ulcers are usually not accompanied by pain, but give off an aqueous fluid containing the syphilis pathogen, the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Upon contact with the fluid threatens a transmission of the disease. About two months after the infection sufferers usually suffer from flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches. The lymph nodes swell and it develops an itchy rash. In the long term, the pathogens spread more and more in the body and also affect other organs such as the lungs, the esophagus, the stomach or the liver. In addition, inflammation of the brain can occur in the long term, leading to paralysis or dementia in the worst case.

Against restrictions on sex workers
Experts generally call for much more education in connection with sexually transmitted diseases. On the other hand, activities such as those by Alice Schwarzer are critical. With her petition „Apell against prostitution“ calls for the women's rights activist along with celebrities a reform of the dating from 2002 prostitution law. Her call states that Germany should become one „European hub for trafficking in women and the paradise of sex tourists from neighboring countries“ degenerate. In the long term, the abolition of prostitution is required. Like Brockmeyer, on the occasion of the conference opposite the news agency „dpa“ However, restrictions on sex workers and prosecution for suitors would not solve the problem: „Everything that works against liberalization in the field of prostitution will significantly worsen the situation. So they send the people underground. "

Enlightenment instead of repression
The President of the German Dermatological Society (DDG), Rudolf Stadler, calls for a better education about venereal diseases. An essential factor in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is, according to Stadler, the knowledge of contagion and consequences. There are considerable deficits here. Not infrequently STDs would be brought back from vacation, for example. In Germany, a continuous information policy is needed, said the DDG President in the spring to the news agency. The education work not only concerned schools, but also the doctors' practices. In doctor-patient conversations, the sexual health should also be addressed. This applies to dermatologists, as well as gynecologists, urologists and family doctors, so Stadler. (Ad)

Picture: Aka