CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise across the country.
The CDC said STIs need to become a public health priority.
WCNC Charlotte's Verify team is taking a look at Mecklenburg County health data from 2019 to 2023. Mecklenburg County is seeing a spike in many STIs similar to what doctors are seeing nationally.
What's surprising is how young some STI patients are.
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According to the CDC, syphilis is a major cause for concern as cases nationally have increased by 78% from 2018 to 2022.
But what about in Mecklenburg County?
According to the data from the county health department, syphilis gradually increased between 2019 and 2022, but dropped in 2023 with 742 cases.
The most prevalent STI in Mecklenburg County is chlamydia.
In 2023, 10,147 cases were reported. The youngest patient was 10 years old.
Mecklenburg County data shows the higher incidence among the 13 to 24 age group accounts for nearly 50% of chlamydia cases.
Gonorrhea cases followed with more than 4,000 cases in 2023, slightly down from the previous year. HIV cases also declined, with 273 cases last year.
Dumford said that is why it is important to get tested and treated.
"As far as treatment goes, there are different options depending on which sexually transmitted infection it is, all of which are relatively benign and mostly well tolerated," Dumford said.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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