Gonorrhea in the United States 1975-1984: is the giant only sleeping?

After a decade of increase, the number of cases of gonorrhea declined by 12% in the United States between 1975 and 1984. During the same period gonorrhea rates declined by 20%. We examined age-, sex-, and race-specific gonorrhea cases and rates to determine whether the national trend has been occurring in all population groups. The greatest percentage decline in rates was 22.6% among 25-44-year-old men of other-than-white race, and the only increase (0.5%) occurred among white teenaged women. To control gonorrhea and its complications more effectively, more focused screening of young women and more rapid treatment of their sexual partners are necessary.