Blog #6

Sexually transmitted diseases continue to exist and are transmitted at high rates in the US. According to the CDC’s STD surveillance report, in 2018 the levels of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were at their highest rates recorded. There were 115,000 syphilis cases in the US during 2018 with a 14% increase in the infectious stage of syphilis cases from 2017-2018. Congenital syphilis also increased by 22% from 2017 to 2018. This increase in syphilis reports is a trend that has been observed since 1998 when it was at its lowest levels since the disease had been reported.

Syphillis is caused by Treponema pallidum and can enter the body through microscopic abrasions or mucous membranes present in the genitalia, mouth, or rectum. Chancres develop at the site of entry where the organism multiplies and proceeds to spread through the blood stream. The infection results in fever, rash, mucous membrane lesions, and can often lead to latent syphilis if not treated. The symptoms can then return as tertiary syphilis that can cause heart and blood vessel defects, eye abnormalities, and mental illnesses.

Syphillis is spread through sexual intercourse, however, it can also spread through different ways. Additionally, It can be spread by touching an ulcer from the primary syphilis infection or by kissing a person with secondary syphilis. Penicillin is the main antibiotic used for treatment of syphilis during the primary and secondary stage of the disease, and it is inserted intravenously for tertiary syphilis. Abstinence, monogamy, and correct use of condoms are the main methods of prevention from syphilis. These methods are extremely crucial not only to prevent the spread of syphilis to other adults, but also to prevent congenital syphilis which can lead to stillbirth and neonatal death. According to this article, congenital syphilis can also cause deafness, teeth deformities, and saddle nose in the infected newborns. It is crucial that we implement some or all of these methods of prevention in order to lower the rates of syphilis in the US for the safety of adults and newborns.