Why are Chlamydia and HPV Major Public Health Problems

Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium that is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in Europe. Rates in sexually active young people are commonly between 5% and 10%. The number of diagnosed cases is increasing in many European countries, in part due to increased testing and the use of more sensitive tests. People with genital chlamydia may experience symptoms of genital tract inflammation including urethritis and cervicitis, but the majority remains asymptomatic. Chlamydia is a significant public health problem because untreated chlamydia may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, subfertility and poor reproductive outcomes in some women. Chlamydia also facilitates the transmission of HIV. The cost of treating subfertility due to Chlamydia is high as it requires tubal surgery and invitro fertilisation. Although inexpensive and effective treatment is available, control of Chlamydia is challenging since most people are asymptomatic. A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and has been clearly established as the necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer. More than 30 to 40 types of HPV are typically transmitted through sexual contact and infect the anogenital region. Some sexually transmitted HPV types may cause genital warts. Persistent infection with “high-risk” HPV types—different from the ones that cause skin warts—may progress to precancerous lesions and invasive cancer.