Syphilis was one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in Korea just a few decades ago.
As a by-product of a time when hygiene concepts were rare and prostitution remained, as the economy developed, the sanitary environment also improved, making it seem like a forgotten word.
But recently, syphilis has reared its head again. In particular, the rapid increase in cases in Japan and the United States has put public health authorities on high alert.
The name syphilis was derived from the plum blossom (梅) because rashes appear all over the body and skin ulcers look like blooming plum blossoms.
In Japan, the number of syphilis patients reached 13,251 as of the 19th, which is 1,900 more than at the same time last year, and has already exceeded the total number of patients in 2022 (13,228).
In the United States, a case was also reported where one man transmitted syphilis to five women.
This man infected five women who met him between March and July 2022 with syphilis. Three of these women contacted the man through an online dating app.
Japanese health authorities also believe that the reason for the increase in syphilis is the atmosphere of easily meeting and sleeping with strangers through SNS or matching apps and the lax vigilance against syphilis.
Considering the examples of the United States and Japan, experts believe that syphilis is increasing in Korea as well.
However, the exact rate of increase cannot be determined through official statistics.
This is because syphilis remains a level 4 infectious disease subject to ‘sample surveillance’.
Looking at the trend since 2020, when the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency converted syphilis reports (stages 1 and 2, congenital syphilis) to sample surveillance, there are 354 cases in 2020, 337 cases in 2021, 401 cases in 2022, and 342 cases as of October this year.
Sample surveillance is a form of reporting when syphilis occurs in 572 sample surveillance institutions, including hospitals, clinics, and public health centers across the country designated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and if a patient appears in the remaining institutions, it is not counted.
The National Assembly, conscious of these problems, revised the ‘Infectious Disease Prevention Act’ last August and expanded the scope of syphilis from sample surveillance to universal surveillance.
Accordingly, syphilis was designated as a level 3 infectious disease subject to total surveillance from a level 4 infectious disease subject to specimen surveillance from January 1 of next year.
When subject to universal surveillance, all hospitals and clinics are required to report syphilis patients to the local public health center. This means that it will be possible to determine the majority of people infected with syphilis.
If left untreated, syphilis can cause organ and nerve damage and leave scars on bones. In particular, if syphilis bacteria infiltrates the central nervous system, there is a high possibility of causing mental abnormality.
Syphilis is difficult because, unlike many sexually transmitted diseases, infection cannot be prevented with contraceptives. This is because infection occurs through the skin and mucous membranes.
The best preventive measure is to meet with a trusted partner. You need to be careful about online matching where you don’t know the opponent’s history accurately.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.