Epidemiologic treatment in venereal disease. A method to aid in VD control.

Epidemiologic therapy refers to the treatment of infectious syphilis or gonorrhea contacts without proof of laboratory diagnosis. This method of treatment is considered essential by public health authorities in the management of venereal disease, but has long been neglected in the private sector of medicine. The majority of venereal disease patients are treated by private practitioners, but apathetic attitudes, insufficient training, lack of case reporting, differing and often inadequate treatment schedules, poor follow-up and ignorance about or reluctance to use epi-treatment are all factors in our losing struggle against the current venereal disease epidemic.