Sexually transmitted diseases made headlines last month when new cases of syphilis were confirmed in Broome County. And, while the campus Health Clinic has still not diagnosed anyone at Binghamton University with the disease, health officials warn of another STD that has become increasingly common in patients under 25 years old.

Chlamydia, one of the most prevalent STDs in the world, is a serious concern for college-age students in the area because they comprise the majority of those affected — and the disease is spreading.

In Broome County, statistics from the South Central New York branch of Planned Parenthood showed that 60 percent of chlamydia cases in the county in 2005 were in college-age patients. Across all age groups, the incidence of chlamydia increased by 8 percent from 2004.

The disease is particularly dangerous and widespread because, in the majority of cases, those who have it are unaware and do not have any symptoms, said Melissa Brennan, a nurse practitioner at the Broome County Health Department’s STD Clinic.

According to Brennan, 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females with the disease do not exhibit any symptoms, and usually do not seek treatment.

“There is a general perception when it comes to STDs, which is, ‘If I had it, I would know,’” she said. “With chlamydia, that’s simply not true.”

Ingrid Husisian, a spokeswoman for the South Central New York branch of Planned Parenthood, noted that chlamydia isn’t the only STD that is prevalent among 18- to 24-year-olds that they have treated at their Broome County clinics.

Cases of herpes seen at the clinics in 2005 increased by 56 percent from 2004, with nearly half of the cases being in college-age patients. Fifty-five percent of cases of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in 2005 were also in that age range. Gonorrhea, however, seems to be on the decline, as there were no cases in patients under 25 for the period.

Bonnie Cornwell, the nursing director for BU’s Health Clinic, noted that college is “the time of life when people are starting to think about their health practices.”

But while Cornwell said the clinic encourages patients who get prescriptions for the pill to continue using condoms, the increases in STDs in Broome County’s population of 18- to 25-year-olds suggests that they may not be listening.

Husisian agreed.

“Planned Parenthood strongly encourages patients to use both hormonal contraceptives (the pill, the “patch,” Depo Provera injections, the NuvaRing) against unintended pregnancy and condoms to prevent the spread of STD’s,” she said.

And while many students may be passive, ignorant or may even avoid seeking a diagnosis, Brennan stressed the simplicity of getting tested and treated for chlamydia. Women can be tested during a genital examination, “which feels no different than a pap smear,” she said. Men can be tested with a urine specimen.

The treatment for chlamydia, Brennan said, is one dose of antibiotics.

The STD Clinic at the Broome County Health Department offers free testing for county residents, and BU students qualify. Planned Parenthood offers free testing and treatment for STDs and free birth control.

Students who use the pill and not a condom, because they are in a monogamous relationship, should be as cautious as those who are not, Brennan warned.

“Many of us believe that we are in a committed relationship, and unfortunately, a good number of us are wrong,” she said.