On a regular basis state health departments across the country issue reports of increases in STIs with syphilis cases leading the way.
This week Minnesota became the latest state to report an increase in syphilis cases.
Infections rose 25 percent, according to the state’s health department. However, that pales compared to the nationwide increase in syphilis cases of nearly 74 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) latest report.
In addition, the toll for treatment is costing the healthcare system almost $16 billion, the CDC estimates.
Growing Epidemic
“The U.S. STI epidemic shows no signs of slowing.” said Dr. Leandro Mena, director of the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. “The reasons for the ongoing increases are multifaceted – and so are the solutions.”
Overall, STIs increased seven percent from 2017 through 2021, according to the CDC. In addition to syphilis, gonorrhea rose 28 percent and chlamydia declined four percent.
However, the CDC surmises that fewer people got chlamydia screenings during the pandemic.
Syphilis Cases in Newborns Skyrocket
The largest percentage increase in syphilis cases was among newborns, according to the CDC. Those infections rose 203 percent from 2017.
A baby born with syphilis is identified as having congenital syphilis. It is passed from mother to child during pregnancy.
The rise in congenital syphilis is so dramatic because it was nearly eliminated, noted the CDC report.
Treatment
Congenital syphilis cases can be cured, according to a report published in the National Library of Medicine (NLM). However, the success depends on diagnosis and treatment.
The NLM report recommends all women should be tested for syphilis during pregnancy. Those with high risk factors should be tested again at 28 weeks and at delivery. The only known treatment for congenital syphilis is penicillin, according to the report.
In addition, penicillin can cure syphilis cases in adults. However, left untreated, the infection will stay in your body. It can damage your heart, brain, eyes, and organs. It can also kill you.
Hope
Though syphilis cases and other STIs are increasing, the battle to treatment is also continuing.
A new study published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine shows promise from an existing drug already used to treat a variety of infections.
Researchers found that taking a doxycycline pill within 72 hours after having unprotected sex decreased the likelihood of contracting syphilis by about 80 percent. In addition, the study reports that participants were about 90 percent less likely to get chlamydia and over 50 percent less likely to get gonorrhea.
“For the first time in decades, we’re seeing promising new STI interventions on the horizon,” said Dr. Mena, “but these alone will not solve this epidemic. It will take many of us working together to effectively use new and existing tools, to increase access to quality sexual healthcare services for more people, and to encourage ongoing innovation and prioritization of STI prevention and treatment in this country.”
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