2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Large scale screening research on asymptomatic chlamydial infection targeting high school
| Project/Area Number |
17390180
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Public health/Health science
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| Research Institution | National Institute of Public Health |
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Principal Investigator |
IMAI Hirohisa National Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology, Director (20316631)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
HAMASUNA Ryouichi University of Miyazaki, Medicine, assistant professor (30189609)
YAMAGUCHI Masatoshi University of Miyazaki, Medicine, assistant professor (90174630)
SHINOHARA Hisae University of Miyazaki, Education, assistant professor (40178885)
FUJII Yoshinori University of Miyazaki, Education, assistant professor (10218985)
HIROOKA Kenzo Asahikawa Medical College, Health Science, assistant (80292126)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2005 – 2006
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| Keywords | chlamydia trachomatis infection / asymptomatic students / prevalence / risk factors / PCR / screening / high school students |
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| Research Abstract |
The prevalence of symptomatic chlymydia in patients who visited medical facilities has been documented ; however, the number of asymptomatic patients, accounting for the majority of infected individuals, remains unclear. Although increasing concern has been expressed in recent years about the spread of infection in teenagers due to a lowering of the age at which individuals become sexually active, there continues to be an insufficient amount of epidemiological information. Therefore, large scale screening research on asymptomatic chlamydial infection targeting young subjects including high school students has been initiated.
In a screening of 5, 000 high school students, the prevalence of asymptomatic chlamidia infection in high school students in this country became apparent for the first time. Prevalence of the infection is 13.1% among female high school students and 6.6% among male high school students, leaving no doubt of the presence of epidemic infection among teenagers. The prevalence of infection was 3.9% in the United States (female high school students in California in 2003) and 2.1% in Sweden (female high school students in Uppsala in 1994). Japan is thought to be expanding at the highest rate among developed countries.
Research results suggest that the concrete measures required in the future are: (1) the targeting of teenagers as the object of focus for epidemic prevention; (2) the implementation of measures for the epidemic prevention based on data including sex, age and risk factors that have been revealed; and (3) quick action in cooperation with government agencies, regional medical associations and individuals who are involved in school education from now on.
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