Description

Despite steady educational efforts, sexually transmitted diseases remain some of the most common causes of illness worldwide. Health experts believe that more than 12 million new infections occur each year in the U.S. alone. The Centers for Disease Control report that, as of the year 2000, about 65 million Americans are living with an STD, and millions more will become infected each year. Most Infections occur in people 25 and younger. The situation is much worse in other parts of the world, and ignorance is the key factor placing people at risk. Some STDs exhibit no immediate symptoms and only awareness and education can reduce the risk of infection. The Encyclopedia of Sexually Transmitted Diseases provides more than 300 entries explaining the different types of STDs, how they function and how they are spread, what kinds of care and treatment are available, how to decrease the risk of becoming infected, how to recognize the symptoms, key groups at risk, education, clinical studies, and much more. Appendixes include resources, statistics, and a bibliography.