Cecilia Burwasser     

The Top Five Community Health Trends in San Antonio Metropolis

I spoke with Christian Watamaleo, an epidemiologist working for the city, about the top five infectious diseases in San Antonio Metropolis.

Gastrointestinal issues happen somewhere in the digestive track. Common problems include constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel disorders, and colitis. Watamaleo said that often people have these issues because they are under immense stress, medication, or are not physically active. Diet is also a major factor when looking at people who suffer from gastrointestinal issues. Those who eat fiber are very less likely to develop these issues and in the long run have a better chance of avoiding cancers in their digestive tracks.

Tuberculosis is more likely to be found in foreigners, the homeless, the diabetic, and those who work in healthcare. Watamaleo brought it to my attention that states, like Texas, are closer to Mexico and so the rates of TB are higher than in states like Iowa and Oregon. In San Antonio about 50% of all reported in Hispanics. Watamaleo stated that when you get even closer to the border, rates of TB increase for the previously stated reasons. TB is completely treatable and can be cured. Citizens need to be aware of this so they can undergo treatment if necessary.

Texas ranks 17^th out of the fifty states for chlamydial infections. Chlamydia is most commonly spread by sexual contact. In 2008 about 9,000 per 100,000 people reported chlamydial cases. Watamaleo discussed that due to such a high number of reported cases much more time is now spent researching the STD and providing clinics in which citizens can receive treatment. If a person gets chlamydia, he or she is most likely living in poverty and has not received a good education due to the lack of opportunity. This is a very big health disparity.  People need to be aware of the risks when participating in sexual activity. They also have the right to affordable protection.

Another common infectious disease not only in San Antonio is the STD gonorrhea. A big problem with this STD is that people who have it do not usually know they have it until they are severely affected by it because many do not initially show symptoms. That being said, people who are clueless can easily pass it on to others. Watamaleo told me that in 2008 about 3,000 cases were reported out of every 100,000 people. In order to try to decrease the amount of cases, Watamaleo discussed how schools in the metropolis are trying to implement more effective sexual education classes. People need to realize that STDs can be passed along not only through sexual contact, but also through breastfeeding, needles, and pregnancy.

Syphilis is also a very common STD in San Antonio. Syphilis is quite curable if a person can get prescribed antibiotics from their doctor. Like the previous STDs discussed we can decrease the number of people who have syphilis if they are aware and take precautions. Obviously the best way not to get syphilis is to abstain from sex, but in the world we live in today that seems to be too much to ask for.