You snooze you lose?
In the past, it had considerable stigma attached to it as the first disease widely recognized to be sexually transmitted. The location of syphilis' origin and the moral significance of contracting the disease were debated in ways they weren't for previous diseases.
The syphilis infection is caused by a bacterium called treponema pallidum. Syphilis is divided into stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary), and there are different signs and symptoms associated with each stage.
Congenital syphilis—where a mother passes the infection to her child during pregnancy, often after contracting it from a partner—has also risen sharply.
It's been called many things, but one name has stuck more than others: "the great imitator." Indeed, syphilis is a master at mimicking other infections.
By the early 2000's, syphilis was "almost eliminated," according to Dr. Leandro Mena, the CDC's director of the Division of STD Prevention.
Our current decade, however, saw a drastic change. Globally in 2020, there were 7.1 million new cases of syphilis, according World Health Organization data. In 2022, the UK saw syphilis cases reach their highest level since 1948.
Cases have been soaring in the US, up 32% between 2020-2021. It should be noted that congenital syphilis can result in stillbirths, infant deaths, and lifelong health problems.
Because of this, early symptoms are easy to miss. Left untreated, the consequences can be serious, even leading to long-term neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
As there are many myths surrounding syphilis, let's be clear that you cannot get syphilis through casual contact with objects such as toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils.
Syphilis is passed from one person to another by direct contact with a syphilis sore. These sores can occur in or around the genitals or mouth.
Women who have lost their home or struggle with substance abuse, who are already more vulnerable, are also hardest hit by the disease.
Researchers in Japan recently examined whether a change in sexual practices is behind the increase. Notably, they have been looking at the link between the use of dating apps and cases of syphilis.
STI prevention resources were interrupted during the pandemic, and the cases of STIs—not just syphilis—have risen in the meantime.
Their conclusion? Dating app use was "significantly associated with syphilis incidence," linking the use of the apps to a higher rate of unprotected, casual sex.
An intramuscular dose of penicillin is considered to be the most effective way of treating the infection.
These sores can be painless, so you could have them without noticing them. Using condoms properly can reduce the risk of syphilis, if the condom covers the sores. However, you can still contract syphilis from the sores if they are occurring in areas that are not covered by a condom.
One of the oldest-known sexually transmitted infections, syphilis was in decline in the second half of the 20th century. Unfortunately, it now appears to be experiencing a resurgence, and at an alarming rate.
A skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever are symptoms of secondary syphilis. Both primary and secondary symptoms can be mild enough not to raise alarm.
Primary syphilis presents as a sore or sores at the site of infection. They are usually (but not always) firm, round, and painless.
Severe medical problems affecting the heart, brain, and other organs in the body are hallmarks of the tertiary stage of infection.
By this stage, the infection is usually diagnosed by a doctor with the help of multiple tests.
For many people, the only way to know if you've contracted the infection is by getting tested. For instance, many men who get syphilis do not have any symptoms for years. However, they remain at risk for health problems if they are not treated.
Syphilis is curable with the right antibiotics. But it's important to remember that treatment might not be able to undo any damage that's already happened.
If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted the infection, have an open and honest talk with your healthcare provider, to ask whether you should be tested for syphilis.
Having syphilis once does not protect you from getting it again. Even if you were successfully treated in the past, you can still catch it. You can reduce the risk by using a condom.
Two of the highest risk groups—men who have intimate relations with men, as well as people with HIV—"may benefit" from being screened once a year or even more frequently, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Ultimately, regular testing, wearing preservatives, and following up on any symptoms of infection (even if painless) will go a long way to ensure you identify the infection before it becomes something more serious.
Sources: (BBC) (CDC) (ABC News) (Time) (The Washington Post)
See also: Diseases that killed these famous historical figures
The latent, or "hidden," stage of syphilis is a period when there are no visible signs or symptoms of syphilis. Without treatment, the infection will remain in the body.
Any sexually active person can get syphilis. Syphilis can be transmitted during vaginal intercourse as well as oral and anal.
Syphilis has been around for centuries. In fact, the first recorded outbreak is said to have occurred in the 1490s in Naples, Italy, during a French invasion. But it wasn't until 1905 that the organism that causes the infection was isolated and identified at a clinic in Berlin. The number of sufferers dropped in the post-World War II years, as penicillin was used to treat it. However, recent numbers suggest a worrying trend: syphilis is on the rise again
What's more, this resurgence is happening at an alarming rate, with a high number of babies being born with congenital syphilis in the United States. It's not just the US though: according to World Health Organization data, the increasing number of syphilis cases is a global phenomenon.
Curious to know more? Click on this gallery to find out how to recognize, treat, and prevent syphilis.
The alarming trend: is syphilis on the rise?
We're seeing the highest case numbers in 70 years
HEALTH Sti
Syphilis has been around for centuries. In fact, the first recorded outbreak is said to have occurred in the 1490s in Naples, Italy, during a French invasion. But it wasn't until 1905 that the organism that causes the infection was isolated and identified at a clinic in Berlin. The number of sufferers dropped in the post-World War II years, as penicillin was used to treat it. However, recent numbers suggest a worrying trend: syphilis is on the rise again
What's more, this resurgence is happening at an alarming rate, with a high number of babies being born with congenital syphilis in the United States. It's not just the US though: according to World Health Organization data, the increasing number of syphilis cases is a global phenomenon.
Curious to know more? Click on this gallery to find out how to recognize, treat, and prevent syphilis.