Slovakia sees surge in sexually transmitted diseases

The incidence of gonorrhoea has soared by one third on an annual basis compared to last year, going from 344 to 449 cases. This was reported in the SME daily on Tuesday, citing a report by the Public Health Authority (UVZ). The sexually transmitted disease occurred most frequently among men aged 25-29. In terms of geographical distribution, Bratislava, Nitra and Trnava regions came off worst. Head doctor at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Košice's University Hospital Tomáš Kampe said that the figure isn't accurate, as many of those affected sometimes "treat it in various iffy and unrecognised ways". Similarly, the number of cases of syphilis rose from 300 to 370 year-on-year in 2014. This disease had the highest prevalence among 20 to 24-year-olds in the Košice region, particularly among the Roma community in the district of Trebišov. When it comes to gonorrhoea, head doctor of the Department of Dermatology at Trnava's Faculty Hospital Monika Psotová blamed the increasing occurrence on loose sexual morals, with car manufacturing plants also playing a role, as they bring many people together from all around Slovakia.