STD

In October of 2019 the CDC published a press release addressing the growing rate of newborn deaths to syphilis. The 2019 press release was discussing the data collected from 2017-2018. Congenital syphilis is the number one killer among newborns resulting from sexually transmitted diseases. In 2017 the death among newborns from syphilis increased by 22 percent. When I read this, it shocked me. Why are we having an increase in deaths from STDs in this time period? I assumed we were making such medical advances with these diseases, and this much of a downfall seems insane.

While the death rate of newborn syphilis did increase by 20 percent, the overall increase of infection was 40 percent from 2017 to 2018. This is a dangerous increase and the question we all want to know is why. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by early prenatal care. The tests are not invasive or difficult. The CDC tells us that the common driving factors for cases going undetected are drug use, poverty unstable housing, budget cuts, and decreased condom use overall. I hope to see more availability for free screenings in the next few years and see this trend turn around. It is one thing for a condition to affect the person making the decisions, but when an innocent child is involved we need to take more action.

Syphilis does have a latent stage. The latent phase can last for several years, but this is where regular testing can come in handy. The bacteria is still present, even without symptoms. If we could get more people tested, then we could treat it before symptoms even occur. At the latent stage Tertiary syphilis can occur. This is 10-30 years after the onset of the infection. This can cause major damage to the heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. Tertiary syphilis is very dangerous and often leads to death. If the patient is treated early with penicillin this can be avoided. If nerve or organ damage occurs you can treat at that stage to stop further destruction, but you cannot unto the damage that has been done. I believe if we educate more on STD like this to our young people they would be more likely to practice safe sex and get tested. It is terrible that they need this scare, but it is reality and if we lose the “taboo” of speaking on STDs a lot can change.