The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging greater prioritization of public health efforts to combat rising rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis cases in the United States, as highlighted in their 2022 sexually transmitted infection report.
While cases of chlamydia have leveled off and gonorrhea declined by around 9% year-over-year, syphilis infections surged by 17% over the past year and have increased 80% since 2018. Congenital syphilis, when the infection is passed from a pregnant mother to her baby, saw an even more alarming 30.6% spike in the past year, up 183.4% since 2018.
South Dakota currently has the highest rate of syphilis cases nationwide at 84 per 100,000 people – double the rate of the next highest state, New Mexico. Health experts are gravely concerned about the steady rise in congenital syphilis due to the serious health risks it poses for infants. While every state has reported at least one case, five states (Texas, California, Arizona, Louisiana, and Florida) account for 57% of all congenital syphilis infections reported in 2022. The disease led to 282 stillbirths and infant deaths last year.
Although anyone who is sexually active can contract syphilis, certain groups are disproportionately affected – younger people aged 15-24, gay and bisexual men, pregnant individuals, and racial and ethnic minority populations. Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native and African American communities have the highest rates. Nearly 20% of Black women and over 70% of Black men had primary or secondary stage syphilis in 2022. Researchers estimate Black and Hispanic women are between 2-6 times more likely to contract syphilis annually compared to their white counterparts.
Poverty, lack of insurance, and limited access to regular medical care are barriers preventing many in the Black community from receiving STD testing and treatment. CDC officials stress the need to expand STI prevention efforts, improve testing accessibility, and directly deliver treatment to impacted communities. Laura Bachmann, acting director of the CDC’s STD division, stated “There are no shortcuts, and we have to meet people where they are. Some people face tremendous barriers to STI prevention and health services. So, the most important work is often outside the clinic.”
Syphilis progresses through four stages – primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Each has distinct signs and symptoms ranging from sores, rashes, fever, and swollen glands to more serious organ damage if left untreated. Pregnant women should be tested at least three times to prevent transmission to their babies.