Rapid Decrease of Endemic Gonorrhea in Finland

Abstract

The incidence of gonorrhea has decreased in several European countries while a recent epidemic has occurred in Russia and the Baltic countries. In 1990, Finland had a higher gonorrhea incidence than the other Nordic countries. Therefore we studied prospectively the epidemiology of gonorrhea with special reference to the endemic or imported source of infection. The study included three gonorrhea patient series from STD clinics in Helsinki in 1990 to 1995. Each series covered a 12-month period. Case controls withChlamydia trachomatisinfection were included. Demographic and epidemiological findings, including source partner profiles, were analyzed. Gonorrhea decreased rapidly during the study period. In 1990 to 1991, there were 490 patients (3.3% of all patient visits); in 1992 to 1993, 162 (1.3%); and in 1994 to 1995, only 92 patients (0.9%) with gonorrhea. The change in the prevalence was highly significant (ppC. trachomatisinfection. The prevalence of chlamydia decreased from 10.2 to 8.1% (pConclusion:The present study documented a rapid decrease of endemic gonorrhea in Finland, whereas the rate of imported gonorrhea remained constant. Demographic findings or source partner profiles of patients with gonorrhea or chlamydia gave no obvious explanation for the rapid decline of endemic gonorrhea, which is in sharp contrast toC. trachomatisinfection. The present study documented a rapid decrease of endemic gonorrhea in Finland, whereas the rate of imported gonorrhea remained constant. Demographic findings or source partner profiles of patients with gonorrhea or chlamydia gave no obvious explanation for the rapid decline of endemic gonorrhea, which is in sharp contrast toC. trachomatisinfection.