Researchers advocate for more STD testing in emergency care settings

Female teens who seek emergency medical treatment due to complaints of lower abdominal pain or urinary problems should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to a recent study conducted by researchers from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The scientists said that many urgent care providers do not test their young female patients for STDs because they have not treated these individuals before and may be unaware of the adolescents' risky behaviors.

The study's results showed that among a group of more than 230 girls between the ages of 14 and 19 who sought emergency medical care for these types of symptoms, about 26 percent tested positive for an STD. Moreover, many of these patients were infected with more than one virus. The findings indicated that 19 percent of those who had an STD tested positive for both chlamydia and trichomonas vaginalis, while nearly 7 percent had chlamydia and gonorrhea.

"Adolescents represent a high-risk group for sexually transmitted infections, and many providers are unaware of this association and the consequences that potentially occur due to infection," said lead researcher Monika Goyal.

The scientists encouraged more instances of STD testing in emergency care settings to help prevent serious health complications.