Target chlamydia during STD Awareness Month
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported infectious disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven tion in Atlanta. You can help patients gain a better understanding of the need for detection and prevention and enhance your knowledge of cutting-edge research through the following Internet sites:
1. American Social Health Association. Web: www.ashastd.org.
Founded in 1914, ASHA is a Research Triangle Park, NC-based nonprofit organization dedicated to stopping sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The association has designated April as National STD Awareness Month since 1992 to focus public attention on STDs and encourage open discussion about these infections. This year’s observance focuses on chlamydia, according to spokeswoman Allison Wright Kalloo, MPH. Click on "STD Information" on the site’s home page for an easy-to-read explanation about chlamydia and other STDs. ASHA offers a number of patient education brochures, some of which also are available in Spanish.
2. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Web: www.niaid.nih.gov.
The Bethesda, MD-based NIAID, a component of the National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports research to prevent, diagnose, and treat HIV and other STDs, as well as other illnesses. Click on "Publications" under "Information" on the site’s home page, which will take you to a listing of freely reproducible information sheets on various subjects, including STDs.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Preven tion. Web: www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/nchstp. html.
The National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention is responsible for public health surveillance, prevention research, and programs to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis. Click on "STD Prevention" on the site’s home page, then "Disease Facts and Information" under "Topics," which will take you to the page containing fact sheets on various STDs, including chlamydia.
4. JAMA Women’s Health STD Information Center. Web: www.ama-assn.org/special/std/ std.htm.
The Women’s Health STD Information Center, part of the Chicago-based Journal of the American Medical Association, is designed as a resource for physicians and other health professionals. It offers up-to-date news and journal articles on various STDs, information resources for patients and professionals, and links to selected sites.
5. Sexually Transmitted Infections. Web: ww.bmjpg.com/data/gumar.htm.
Formerly known as Genitourinary Medicine, Sexually Transmitted Infections remains the oldest journal in the field dealing with issues of sexual health, STDs, and HIV. Published monthly, it carries original articles on the clinical, microbiological, behavioral, epidemiological, social, and historical aspects of STDs. The Web site offers an archive of journal contents, with some abstracts available for view on-line.
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