The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Tuesday that nearly 25% of syphilis cases in the United States were diagnosed in women in 2022.
This indicates a concerning trend of the sexually transmitted infection spreading more extensively among heterosexual couples in the country.
The reported cases of syphilis in women increased by 19.5% in 2022, totaling 14,652 instances of primary and secondary syphilis, representing approximately one-fourth of the nationwide total of 59,016 cases.
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In 2018, women accounted for only 14% of syphilis cases.
Despite this increase in female cases, the CDC notes that men who have sex with men still disproportionately contribute to a significant portion of syphilis cases.
Syphilis Epidemic Continues to Escalate
For several years, health authorities have been issuing warnings regarding the escalating syphilis epidemic in the nation.
The final figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2022 reveal the highest number of diagnosed cases nationwide since the 1950s.
Historically, the 1940s witnessed tens of thousands of reported syphilis cases and deaths annually.
However, the widespread use of penicillin led to a substantial decline in disease rates over the last century.
The last peak in nationwide cases occurred in the 1990s, followed by a prolonged decrease attributed to shifts in sexual behavior due to the HIV epidemic.
Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, emphasized the necessity for robust public health systems and tailored prevention strategies to address syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
He underscored that there are no shortcuts to syphilis control.
Syphilis rates have consistently risen since 2011, with a notable disproportionality, particularly affecting Black and American Indian populations.
Dr. Mermin highlighted the imperative to enhance diagnosis and treatment initiatives, coupled with intensified efforts to address contributing factors like substance abuse, especially in the context of intersecting epidemics with heterosexual populations and drug use, particularly methamphetamine use.
Signs and Symptoms of Syphilis
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium T. pallidum. Initial manifestations of syphilis often present as a solitary, painless ulcer.
If left untreated, syphilis can result in more severe complications when it spreads to other body parts, leading to conditions such as neurosyphilis, characterized by brain or nervous infections.
In recent years, the incidence of congenital syphilis, a potentially life-threatening form transmitted to infants during pregnancy, has seen a persistent increase.
The CDC reports that in 2022, more than 102 cases were documented for every 100,000 newborns across the United States, reflecting a rate considerably higher than that observed in peer countries.