Syphilis, a known sexually transmitted disease is caused by the bacterium, Treponema pallidum. Although it is a preventable and curable disease, it posses great health risks if it remains untreated. The transmission of syphilis according to World Health Organization (WHO) is mainly through sexual intercourse with an infected person. Transmission also occurs in pregnancy and during blood transfusion.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022, more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were reported in the United States, with 203,500 of the cases being syphilis infections. The rising cases are not merely a regional thing but a global trend which gives health experts great concern in the field. In the United Kingdom (UK), diagnosed infectious syphilis rose to 15.2% in 2022 when compared to 2021 cases. In addition, WHO’s 2020 estimate of 7.1 million new cases of syphilis globally shows an alarming increase in global syphilis cases. A trend that calls for urgent actions.
The danger is that many people with syphilis rarely notice symptoms of the disease, and when left untreated could result in serious health consequences. Syphilis when not treated could last for so many years while wrecking its havoc.
Several reasons for the rising syphilis cases have been adduced by experts. A study published in the Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS reported that newly diagnosed cases of syphilis rose slightly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Substance abuse, change in sexual behaviors, and economic conditions have been linked to the rising cases.
According to CDC, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men accounted for more than a third of reported primary and secondary syphilis cases in USA. The cases among this population rose by 4% from 2021 to 2022.
Although scientists cannot clearly explain the reasons for the rising syphilis cases, consensus opinion among health workers suggest that disruption in the use of STI preventive materials are responsible for the rise.
There are several stages of syphilis infection. The first is the primary stage (which last for 21 days) and is usually characterized by the appearance of painless sores around the genital or anal areas. In the secondary stage, they may be non-itchy rash on palms and feet, with white or grey lesions on the penis, vagina and anal region. A latent period which usually shows no symptoms may follow the secondary stage and could thereafter progress to the final stage of the disease. At this stage, the disease damages internal organs like the brain and heart, and could result in death.
Viable antidote to the scourge of syphilis is the adoption of appropriate protective measures. Careless sexual behavior is the commonest way of getting infected with syphilis. Despite the ease of treating syphilis, lack of symptoms may keep the disease unnoticed while it keeps damaging your system. Evaluation of your clinical and sexual history may provide some clue about your syphilis status. With physical symptoms and proper laboratory syphilis infections can be detected and treated by appropriate health care providers.
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