Bacterial infections, usually spread through sexual contact, are 100% treatable thanks to the antibiotic penicillin. It is also known as the “great mimic” because of its mild symptoms such as small lesions, a non-itchy rash, and even joint and muscle pain.
If left untreated, the disease can lead to cardiovascular or nervous system problems.
Dr. Daniel Kast, deputy medical director of the Pima County Health Department, said infected individuals may be asymptomatic, making it difficult to diagnose or treat patients.
Since 2015, Arizona has seen a 449% increase in female syphilis cases. Since then, the number of cases of congenital syphilis has doubled every year.
In 2022, there were 187 cases in infants and 21 cases of stillbirth or infant death.
So far this year, Pima County has had four confirmed cases of congenital syphilis.
“So we’re probably on track as well, but that’s not encouraging.” It’s twice as expensive.”
Last month, the CDC released its annual study of STDs in the United States. This is what Elizabeth Torrone Torrone, an epidemiologist in her STD prevention division at the CDC, called a sobering report.
Not long ago, syphilis was nearly eradicated, but its prevalence has steadily increased over the past 20 years. From 2020 to 2021, his fees increased by 31%.
“With more than 2800 confirmed cases of congenital syphilis in 2021 alone, those cases sadly included 220 congenital syphilis stillbirths and infant deaths. I think what’s very concerning about is those cases and their deaths, including the one that happened in Arizona, which I think was prevented,” Torrone said.
Rebecca Scranton, deputy director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said the data was just the tip of the iceberg.
“There are thousands of cases of syphilis in Arizona each year, and if syphilis is endemic in your area, you’re more likely to become infected or reinfected during pregnancy, so you can protect your baby from getting it. It’s very difficult,” said Scranton. .
Medical professionals focus on monitoring trends because of the serious outcomes associated with syphilis.
“Partners’ findings may have been a bit odd, but early in the response, before COVID, there was still an increase in cases during COVID, so the trend is not unique to COVID, but the pandemic response “Some of the ways that WHO has done will affect our ability to intervene in sexually transmitted diseases,” said Scranton.
Prior to the pandemic, public health infrastructure was already thinly spread, only exacerbating existing problems such as closing clinic hours and supply chain issues around getting testing equipment and treatments to communities. “Normally, there was a challenge for people doing case investigations to come to work with COVID for six months, a year, or a few years. care and treatment,” said Scranton.
According to Kast, factors that appear to be contributing to the rate of increase are substance abuse and precarious housing, with even what Thoronet calls “amplified barriers” to transport and other people. Pregnant people may be discouraged from seeking quality care, such as concerns about working as a full-time caregiver for antenatal care.
“One of the problems is that not everyone has access to prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy. People may not have access to that provider, who either offers or does not perform the screening that should have been done at the first prenatal care visit,” Torrone said.
Torrone said meeting where people are can prevent the consequences of congenital syphilis.
“It’s about ensuring that substance use facilities have syphilis in mind, and when providing care for someone with a substance use disorder, when they have care, prenatal care, or sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis.” It also means that you are guaranteed to get a link to healthcare screening.” said Thoronet.
Kast said clinicians treating patients need to raise awareness of both syphilis and pregnancy to prevent so-called missed opportunities. The key is to do more testing.
“There are two types of test results: rapid tests are not accurate, but they give you results immediately, and then there are delayed blood tests that come back after a few days,” Casto said.
Delays can cause providers to “lose” someone. Therefore, increasing efforts to track patients and their contacts may be beneficial.
Torrone said the long-term structural problem was to implement policies to ensure quality prenatal care and syphilis screening and treatment in non-traditional settings, and to work with emergency departments and public health providers. said it could be addressed by ensuring a strong relationship between
“There are so many harmful consequences that happen to babies in the United States that we have no control over, but congenital syphilis is one that we can actually prevent.
2022 STD surveillance data will be released by the CDC later this year.
