Tarrant ranks in top five Texas counties for these sexually transmitted diseases
Chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea cases are on the rise across the country, including Tarrant County.
Tarrant is home to the fourth most cases of chlamydia and the fifth most cases of gonorrhea and syphilis in Texas, according to the the Texas Department of State and Health Service’s recently released STD Surveillance Report.
And a new list ranking cities with the most sexually transmitted diseases puts Fort Worth at No. 5 and Arlington at No. 10 in the state.
“STD rates have increased nationally and Tarrant County’s rapid growth reflects the national data,” said Kenton Murthy, the deputy medical director in Tarrant County.
“What is important is that people practice safe sex and get tested regularly at their doctor’s office or one of our clinics in Fort Worth and Arlington, both of which offer full STD testing and treatment.”
Tarrant is the third largest county in Texas, with 2.08 million residents.
Across the country, around 1.8 million cases of chlamydia, 583,405 cases of gonorrhea and 115,045 cases of syphilis were reported in 2018, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That includes 145,874 cases of chlamydia, 46,958 of gonorrhea and 12,900 of syphilis in Texas and 9,571 cases of chlamydia, 3,210 of gonorrhea and 778 of syphilis in Tarrant County, the report showed.
Heath officials stress that antibiotics can cure many STDs.
But left untreated, they can lead to problems ranging from infertility to abdominal pain.
“Curbing STDs will improve the overall health of the nation and prevent infertility, HIV, and infant deaths,” said Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention.
Here’s a look at the STD cases.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia, commonly found among young people, is the most reported STD across the country.
But even more cases aren’t reported each year because many don’t experience symptoms and don’t get tested.
Nearly two-thirds of new cases are found in people between 15 and 24. And estimates show that one in every 20 sexually active females between 14 and 24 have chlamydia, according to the recent Texas report.
The number of chlamydia cases in Tarrant County spiked to 9,571 in 2018, up from 8,384 in 2017 and 8,998 in 2016, the report showed.
The only Texas counties with more chlamydia cases than Tarrant last year were Bexar, Dallas and Harris.
Last year, 5,059 cases were reported in Fort Worth and 1,515 cases were reported in Arlington, data shows.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea also is common among young people and countless cases aren’t detected or reported each year.
The CDC estimates that more than half of the known cases last year were among people between 15 and 24 years old. And the highest rates typically are found in teens, young adults and African-Americans, according to the Texas report.
The number of gonorrhea cases in Tarrant County reached a new high in 2018, with 3,210 cases, compared with 2,759 in 2017 and 3,080 in 2016, the report showed.
The only Texas counties with more gonorrhea cases than Tarrant last year were Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis.
Last year, 1,741 cases were reported in Fort Worth and 776 cases were reported in Arlington, data shows.
Syphilis
Syphilis can cause serious long-term health problems if not properly treated in a timely manner.
This STD is transferred from one person to another through direct contact with a syphilitic sore, which can be on the lips, in the mouth or on the genitals or anus. Pregnant women can transmit the disease to their unborn children.
The highest number of cases last year were reported among men between the ages of 20 and 34, the Texas report shows.
There were 778 syphilis cases in Tarrant County in 2018, compared with 675 in 2017 and 544 in 2016, the report showed.
The only Texas counties with more syphilis cases than Tarrant were Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis.
Last year, 130 cases were reported in Fort Worth and 83 cases were in Arlington, data shows.
Break the cycle
Anyone who has sex is at risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease, at a time when the number of cases surged for the fifth year in a row, statistics show.
That’s why the CDC offers one piece of advice:
“Prevent the spread of STDs with three simple steps: talk, test, treat.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 6:00 AM.
