SCREENING FOR NONVIRAL SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN ADOLESCENTS: WHAT IS THE STATE OF ART

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) is a serious public health issue with highest rates among teenagers and young adults.
In developed countries, non-viral STI include Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum and Trichomonas vaginalis. Early detection of non-viral STI have a positive impact not only on patients health but also on public health as it allows timely prescription of appropriate treatment, reduces transmission between partners and decreases long-term complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Several international medical societies published recommendations for screening of some non-viral STI in certain groups. In Portugal, the rule of mandatory reporting of communicable diseases was updated by the Direção Geral de Saúde (DGS) in 2014 and includes gonorrhea, syphilis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Nevertheless, there are few studies on the epidemiology of STI in Portugal and only just recently the opportunistic screening of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection was introduced in the National Health Plan 2011-2016. General Practitioner through their holistic person-centered approach of the patients, their family and social context (focusing on personal background / risk behaviors) will necessarily have a decisive role in both the primary prevention and STI screening.