CDC Warns Cases of , Congenital Syphilis , Have Reached 'Dire Levels'.
On November 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report warning that cases of newborn syphilis are rapidly on the rise.
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On November 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report warning that cases of newborn syphilis are rapidly on the rise.
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NBC reports that the number of cases have increased over tenfold in the last ten years.
The CDC warns that the number of cases in the United States have reached "dire levels.".
In 2022, over 3,700 cases were reported to the CDC, an increase from the 2,855 cases reported in 2021.
In 2012, just 335 cases of newborn syphilis were documented.
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NBC reports that congenital syphilis can potentially cause stillbirths, miscarriages or developmental disabilities like blindness or hearing loss.
In 2022, congenital syphilis caused 51 infant deaths and 231 stillbirths.
The CDC report notes that almost 90% of those cases could have been avoided through timely testing and treatment during pregnancy.
The authors of the report call for increased testing, particularly in settings that typically see patients with limited access to health care.
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We are recommending that screening really increase for syphilis outside of traditional prenatal care, Dr. Robert McDonald, lead author of the report and a medical officer in the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, via NBC
