Trichomoniasis: A Common STD In Young US Adults

NEW YORK — More than 2 percent of young adults in the United States have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) called trichomoniasis — including more than 10 percent of young black women, according to a new report.

Trichomoniasis, a parasitic infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, “is more common than we usually think,” Dr. William C. Miller from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told Reuters Health. “We need to consider routinely testing young adults.”

Although many persons with trichomoniasis have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, the infection can cause significant illness. Trichomoniasis is estimated to cost the US more than 34 million dollars annually in direct medical care costs.

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Trichomonas was considerably more prevalent among blacks (6.9 percent) and Native Americans (4.1 percent) than among whites (1.2 percent), the researchers observe, and prevalences were intermediate in Latinos (2.1 percent) and Asians (1.8 percent).

The highest rates were seen in black (10.5 percent) and Native American (4.2 percent) women. White men had the lowest prevalence (1.3 percent).

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