An alarming uptick in syphilis infections was recently reported by the Salt Lake County Health Department. This pattern coincides with what has been observed throughout the country, as reported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Prevalence Among Women, Infants
Lynn Beltran, who is in charge of statistics at the Salt Lake County Health Department, says that the number of female cases has already doubled this year. Beltran also verified that there had been 278 cases reported in males and 320 patients reported in women so far this year, according to KSL.com.
Salt Lake County had an 800% spike in syphilis infections among young women between 2018 and 2022, based on statistics supplied by the county health department. Women between the ages of 15 and 44 comprised 89% of the total.
With more people of childbearing age in the population, syphilis in newborns is likely to rise as a result. In the first quarter of this year, four infants in the county were diagnosed with congenital syphilis.
The health department said that newborn syphilis arises when women do not obtain prompt testing and treatment throughout their pregnancy. Pregnant women with syphilis have an increased risk of having a stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death. Babies who survive but are not treated properly may be left with vision and hearing impairments, cognitive delays, or bone deformities.
Dr. Andrew Pavia, chief of epidemiology at Primary Children's Hospital, has spent the last three decades working on pediatric infectious illness. He said about 35 to 40 pregnant women who were exposed to syphilis this year were assessed collectively.
The last instance of syphilis in a baby was in 2008; the next one was not discovered until 2022.
Dr. Angela C. Dunn, head of the Salt Lake County Health Department, stated: "Newborn syphilis is especially unfortunate because it's completely preventable. We can keep newborns from suffering by ensuring women have affordable, convenient access to syphilis testing and treatment, as well as appropriate prenatal care."
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Predominance in Recent Years
Syphilis is a bacterial sexually transmitted disease. Its prevalence has been on the rise in recent years, and it is not simply a problem for women. Salt Lake County had a 65% rise in syphilis cases between 2018 and 2022.
The CDC advises that anybody with several or anonymous sexual partners be tested for syphilis as early in their pregnancy as possible. All pregnant women are urged to get tested at some point throughout their pregnancy.
When a quick test comes back positive for syphilis, doctors advise that the patient begins treatment immediately, even if confirmation testing is still pending.
Neglected cases may lead to life-threatening complications. The illness develops in phases, and each stage might have various signs and symptoms. Beltran has said blisters, rashes, and other skin abnormalities are common complaints.
Antibiotics may effectively cure syphilis, but the harm the infection has already done may be irreversible.
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