The World Health Organisation (WHO) has shared new guidelines on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the STI & HIV 2023 World Congress in Chicago. The UN health agency calls for better access to treating and diagnosis of STIs. The event will take place till July 27.
The WHO's guidelines come at a point where every day more than a million such cases are reported. The WHO says monitoring STIs in many countries, especially the low and middle income countries are blocked by limited access to diagnosis. This is further made difficult by the nature of the STIs; most of the STIs are asymptomatic by nature. Of the tota population who are affected by the STIs, more than 500 million people 15–49 years are estimated to have a genital infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV or herpes).
Point of care tests are the medical tests where healthcare can be provided to near or closer to the patients. It is also known as bed side testing. Common point of care tests are blood glucose monitoring and home pregnancy tests. WHO aims to include such testing for diagnosing syphilis (treponema pallidum), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis. "Point-of-care tests can lower health-care costs, reduce waiting times, speed up initiation of and increase the accuracy of treatment, and improve patient follow-up," the WHO says.
As per the data available on the website of the WHO, 8 pathogens-- syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, herpes simplex virus (HSV), HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV)-- account for maximum number of STI cases while more than 30 bacteria are known to cause these infections actively.
While some STIs are treatable, some can have potentially fatal consequences. Herpes, gonorrhoea and syphilis increase the risk of HIV; STIs in mothers can lead to stillbirth, premature births, congenital defects and neonatal conjuctivitis; HPV can lead to cervical, oral cancer; gonorrhoea and chlamydia lead to pelvic disease and infertility in women.
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