Denmark reports 46% increase in gonorrhea
Denmark reports 46% increase in gonorrhea
The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) reported yesterday that gonorrhea cases in the country increased significantly from 2021 to 2022, with the city of Copenhagen being hardest hit by the sexually transmitted infection.
According to SSI, 5,204 cases were registered in 2022, up 46 percent from the 3,570 cases reported in 2021.
This also compares to no increase in the number of gonorrhea cases observed from 2020 to 2021.
The large increase can be due, among other things, to the relaxation of covid-19 restrictions, but of course especially an increased incidence of condomless sex.
The increase occurred among heterosexual men and women as well as among homosexual men, but is steepest among young heterosexuals.
The most frequently occurring age group in 2021 was 30-39 years for men and 15-19 years for women, and in 2022 it was 30-39 years for men and 20-24 years for women.
In addition, SSI encourages health professionals to pay special attention to gonococci as a cause of eye inflammation in newborns - especially in the first 14 days after birth. Gonorrheal conjunctivitis, which also occurs in people other than newborns, is a potentially very serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead to destruction of the eyeball.
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These patients must therefore be referred urgently to a specialist department, so that correct and immediate treatment can be initiated to preserve sight.
Lastly, officials report the rate of ciprofloxacin resistance has increased slightly.
Maria Wessman, doctor and section manager at Statens Serum Institut said: "It is important that if you have had condom-free sex with a new partner, you should be examined, and if you are diagnosed with gonorrhea (or another sexually transmitted disease), you must be treated and contribute to partner information. Only by using condoms and rapid infection detection with relevant treatment is it possible to break the chains of infection"
You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea. A pregnant woman with gonorrhea can give the infection to their baby during childbirth.