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Adams County, Ill., experiences high rates of STDs

Category: Chlamydia

Adams County, Ill., which includes the city of Quincy, has experienced a high rise in sexually transmitted disease rates. The county ranked 20th in the state for STD rates last year, so those living in the area may want to exercise caution and consider having STD tests to ensure their STD status.

High STD rates in Adams County
Between the beginning of 2013 and the month of September, there have been nearly 200 reported cases of chlamydia, the most common STD in the U.S., in Adams County, according to local CBS affiliate KHQA. Officials cite a lack of education and STD testing for the increased rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and other diseases.

"I've just seen a continuous climb. I've been here doing this position for eight years, and I've seen a continuous climb in the cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia in Adams County for the past eight years. Each year it continues to grow," Joanna Bunch, a nurse with the Adams County Health Department, told the news source.

Bunch encouraged people to be tested for the diseases, even if they are in monogamous relationships. Diseases like chlamydia can sometimes be asymptomatic, so being tested is especially important to begin treatment for this disease. Officials agree that the most important parts of reducing STD rates in Adams County are proper STD tests and education about these diseases.

Chlamydia rates across the US
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chlamydia is the most common bacterial STD in the country. As many as 1 in 15 sexually active females between the ages of 14 and 19 may have the disease, according to the agency.

The disease can cause irreparable damage to women's reproductive systems if left untreated, but a lab test online can diagnose the disease and allow for treatment to take place. The disease can be treated with antibiotics so that these serious complications can be avoided.

Like many other STDs, chlamydia increases the chances of being infected with HIV, the infection that leads to AIDS, due to a weakened immune system. Those who may be sexually active in Adams County and across the U.S. should seek regular testing to ensure that their chlamydia status is negative, which will avoid these negative complications as well as a reduced immune system.