The United States is facing a epidemic “out of control” of sexually transmitted infections and worries specialists. The country’s National Coalition of STD Directors warned this.
The warning occurs later the publication of the annual report of data on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Once again,” we read on the CDC website, signaling the exasperation of public health officials, “in the U.S. more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis“.
The most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States in 2022, again according to the CDC report, was chlamydia, which It remained in first place for years.
However, what worries you most to health officials is the recent increase in syphilis.
According to CDC data, cases of syphilis in all stages have increased by 80%. in the last five years.
While most people think that adults contract sexually transmitted diseases, syphilis is also a threat.to the lives of children. When a baby contracts syphilis from its mother during pregnancy or childbirth, it is called congenital syphilis.
Syphilis spots. Cases of this disease have increased by 80% in the last five years.In 2022, more than 3,700 of these cases have been officially reported in the United States. That’s a 937% increase in just one decade.
Good and bad news
The good news is that syphilis can be treated with the right antibiotics; The bad news is that until the infection is diagnosed and treated, it is possible cause irreversible damage to the body.
For example, in children, syphilis It is particularly dangerous and sometimes causes developmental delays, seizures, or even death.
In adults, syphilis is transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and tends to be progress step by step. The primary stage usually involves sores around the mouth or genitals, while the second stage can trigger rashes on the body and flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, sore throat, and fatigue.
These first two phases are when the infection is most contagious. The disease rarely progresses to the third stage, which can affect organs and be fatal.
Inflection point
“Tragically,” writes Laura Bachmann, director of sexually transmitted disease prevention at the CDC, “these infections “caused 282 fetal and infant deaths in 2022.”
Such disastrous results are not inevitable. Early testing and treatment of syphilis during pregnancy could have prevented it, experts say 88% of these casesexplained the specialist.
“The field of sexually transmitted diseases has reached a inflection point“, the official continued.
“We have known for a long time that these infections are common, but we have not addressed them such serious effects of syphilis decades from now,” he said.
“Recent public health emergencies have diverted resources from programs and threatened the health of those already disproportionately affected by STDs. We must act now to make up time,” Bachmann said.
The CDC asks “rapid innovation and collaboration” from all public health experts who play a role in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
Source: Science Alerte
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.