Weekly Health Digest: STD Rates, Contact Tracing, Loneliness, & Peanut Allergies

A summary of important health news from the past week

People Are Still Having Sex. So Why Are S.T.D. Rates Dropping?

By: Jan Hoffman

Since the pandemic, S.T.D. rates have drastically dropped from their pre-pandemic levels. Although public health officials warn that this decrease in S.T.D. rates is not due to less people having sex, rather they predict that the true cause is mostly a lack of testing. Many pharmaceutical companies have diverted their production from S.T.D. test materials to Coronavirus test materials, and many essential healthcare workers switched to prioritize Coronavirus testing over S.T.D. testing. Many healthcare clinics that offer routine S.T.D. tests have closed or limited their services, therefore fewer individuals are tested in general. Many people are afraid to get tested in the first place due to the fear of becoming infection with the Coronavirus. Public health scientists worry that this aspect of life during a pandemic will lead, if it has not already, to a notable surge in S.T.D. cases.

Why many Americans refuse to participate in contact tracing

By: Katherine Harmon Courage

Many Americans are uncomfortable sharing their personal data with local health officials, even if that information could help prevent future outbreaks and deaths. Up to 41% of adults in the U.S. said they would not talk about coronavirus with a public health official over the phone or text message, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. There are various reasons why Americans feel unsafe with sharing their health information. Some are simply not familiar with contact tracing and how it works. Others are cautious with sharing health information with an unknown caller, even if they claim to be public health officials. And to some extent, political affiliations are linked to willingness to help with contact tracing.

You’re Not Too Old to Talk to Someone

By: Paula Span 

The coronavirus pandemic has brought stress and anxiety for many. Many older adults have not been able to visit their children and grandchildren. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis, one in four people over age 65 said they experienced anxiety or depression in August. Loneliness and isolation have negatively impacted the health of older people and geriatric psychiatrists anticipate an increase in grief disorders. However, experts have reported that older people are more reluctant to seek treatment for psychological disorders. There are several factors for this finding, including age bias from physicians and Medicare eligibility issues. It is imperative that efforts are made to support older adults during this time of increased distress.

An End to Peanut Allergies is Close

By:  Nick Fouriezos

For decades, the treatment plan for children with peanut allergies was to simply avoid nuts. While peanut allergies are seen as a problem that would be outgrown by adulthood, studies have shown that only 1 in 5 children outgrow their allergies. Within this year or next, 4 new independent drugs are set to enter the market, which could help build an immunity towards peanuts for those who are allergic to them. The drugs work by exposing patients to low and controlled doses of peanut allergens to build resistance to the allergens, which could represent one of the biggest medical breakthroughs in history.