What You Need to Know About Trichomoniasis in South Korea
Tricky Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is a common infection caused by a tiny parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It mainly affects women and can cause problems like vaginal and cervical issues. But here’s the catch – it often doesn’t show any symptoms, which means people might not even know they have it.
Men Are Not Off the Hook: While trichomoniasis is less common in men, it can still be a problem. In guys, it can lead to problems like urinary issues and even fertility problems. And yes, just like in women, most men with this infection don’t show any signs.
Big Picture: Trichomoniasis is a big deal worldwide, with millions of new cases popping up each year. But figuring out exactly how many people have it can be tricky, as it varies from place to place and among different age groups.
South Korea’s Situation: In South Korea, researchers have been trying to understand how common trichomoniasis is, but they haven’t got a clear picture yet. Different studies report different numbers.
Recent Trends: A recent study looked at the years from 2009 to 2014. It found that the number of cases in women went up, especially in older women. But for men, the number of cases actually went down, especially in older guys. The island of Jeju had the most cases in South Korea.
Bottom Line: Trichomoniasis is becoming more common in South Korea, especially in older women. This means it’s important for health experts and policymakers to take action to stop it from spreading and causing more health problems.
References.
Joo SY, Goo YK, Ryu JS, Lee SE, Lee WK, Chung DI, Hong Y. Epidemiology of Trichomoniasis in South Korea and Increasing Trend in Incidence, Health Insurance Review and Assessment 2009-2014. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 9;11(12):e0167938. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167938. PMID: 27936227; PMCID: PMC5148063.