Syphilis among adolescents and young adults in Cincinnati, Ohio: testing, infection and characteristics of youth with syphilis infection
Sherine Patterson-Rose A B , Tanya L. Kowalczyk Mullins A , Elizabeth A. Hesse A , Corinne Lehmann A and Lea E. Widdice AA Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Adolescent and Transition Medicine, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 4000, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
B Corresponding author. Email: Sherine.Patterson-Rose@cchmc.org
Sexual Health 12(2) 179-180 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH15008
Submitted: 19 July 2014 Accepted: 15 February 2015 Published: 7 April 2015
Abstract
Little is known about the epidemiology of syphilis among adolescents and young adults. This study examined, among more than 17 000 young people aged 13–22 years old, trends in rates of syphilis testing and infection; characteristics of infected adolescents; and agreement about syphilis staging and treatment between provider and chart reviewer. Rates of syphilis testing increased but rates of syphilis infection did not increase significantly over a 5-year period. A majority of infected men reported only opposite-sex sexual contact. High agreement between providers and chart reviewers was found. These findings demonstrate the need for complete assessment of risk factors and use of local epidemiology in screening practices.
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