Teen-Age VD

Though still less a public health problem than tuberculosis, venereal disease, especially among teenagers, is spreading menacingly in the U.S. In the last five years, the rate of reported cases of infectious syphilis among the 15-19 age group has more than doubled, from 10 in each 100,000 of population in 1956 to 22 last year. The rate of reported gonorrhea among teen-agers has risen from 408 for each 100,000 of population to 428. The total rate of infectious venereal disease among youngsters is almost three times the rate for all age groups.

What is more, said the American Social Health Association last week, only one case of venereal disease out of five is reported to health authorities. Thus it is estimated that the total syphilis-infected population could be as high as 2,000,000, while another 1,000,000 contracted gonorrhea last year.

Factors in spreading VD:

P: A more mobile population, which makes possible such remarkable case histories as that of one sophisticated syphilitic who had "contacts" with 171 people in no fewer than seven states and five foreign countries.

P: Greater teen-age promiscuity, includng a take-a-chance attitude now that penicillin has all but eliminated the fear of death and disfigurement.

P: The reluctance of many private doctors to report a case of VD, thereby permitting the disease to spread by thwarting the search for the original source.

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