Public Health Officials Urge Syphilis Testing and Treatment amid Rising Congenital Syphilis Cases
Public health officials in New York are promoting syphilis testing and treatment, alarmed by a resurgence of the preventable sexually transmitted infection. The concern is particularly acute regarding congenital syphilis, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, and infant death, as well as lead to health problems in babies born with the infection.
Congenital syphilis has seen a significant increase nationwide, with 3,761 cases reported in 2022, up from 334 in 2012. This includes 231 stillbirths and 51 infant deaths. Experts say that these outcomes are particularly distressing, as congenital syphilis is preventable and can be treated relatively easily with a form of penicillin, but cases often emerge when pregnant people aren’t tested for syphilis at key intervals, or when they don’t have access to prenatal care.
Surge in Primary and Secondary Syphilis
In the 1940s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked syphilis cases, which regularly reported hundreds of thousands of total cases each year. By 2000, the number had dropped to 31,618 total cases, and 5,979 cases of primary and secondary syphilis. This data point reflected a significant achievement in the country’s fight to eliminate syphilis, which is often called "the great imitator" due to its frustratingly wide range of symptoms. However, over the past two decades, cases have surged, with more than 200,000 total syphilis cases reported in 2022, and 59,000 cases of primary and secondary syphilis.
Experts Urge Expanding Testing and Treatment
The solution, experts say, is clear: closing gaps in testing and treatment. In 2022, lack of timely testing and adequate treatment contributed to almost 90% of congenital syphilis cases across the country. Dr. Rodney Wright, vice chair of obstetrics at Montefiore Medical Center, emphasizes that "the biggest part of addressing this issue is making sure people are tested and treated."
New York has been affected, with a 204% increase in congenital syphilis cases over the past decade. Preliminary data show around 70 cases in 2023, with a possible increase to the same number as the previous year. The state has implemented a new requirement for syphilis testing during the third trimester of pregnancy, and a state strategic planning group is poised to release recommendations to guide efforts to reduce and eliminate congenital syphilis.
Conclusion
The fight against congenital syphilis requires a coordinated effort to identify and treat the infection. Public health officials and healthcare providers must work together to ensure that pregnant people are tested at key intervals, and those who require treatment receive it. Disrupting networks of transmission is crucial, and partner notification and testing are essential. By working together, it is possible to reduce and eliminate congenital syphilis.
FAQs
Q: What is congenital syphilis?
A: Congenital syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can be passed from a pregnant person to a baby during pregnancy, leading to serious health problems.
Q: Why is congenital syphilis a concern?
A: Congenital syphilis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, and infant death, and babies born with the infection can experience long-term health problems.
Q: How can congenital syphilis be treated?
A: Congenital syphilis can be treated with a form of penicillin, but it is crucial that pregnant people are tested at key intervals and receive treatment promptly.
Q: Why is it essential to test for syphilis during pregnancy?
A: Syphilis testing during pregnancy is crucial to identifying and treating the infection, preventing potential health problems in the baby, and reducing the risk of transmission to the baby.
Q: What is being done to address the surge in congenital syphilis?
A: Public health officials and healthcare providers are working together to promote syphilis testing and treatment, and states are implementing measures to reduce and eliminate congenital syphilis, such as requiring third-trimester syphilis testing and partner notification.
