Newborn syphilis cases in western Washington surge, reflecting nationwide trend: HealthLink

[Destructive Progressive Liberalism]

SEATTLE — Syphilis cases have risen among adults in recent years,
and the increase is resulting in more infections among newborns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in
November that nationwide, more than 3,700 babies were born with the
infection in 2022, which was more than 10 times the number reported
a decade earlier.

The rise in congenital syphilis among newborns has been a
devastating result of an increase in cases among heterosexual adults
in particular. Congenital means a condition that is present before
birth.

"That a person would be devastated from the very beginning of their
lives is terrible," said Dr. Matthew Golden, an infectious diseases
doctor at Harborview Medical Center and director of the HIV/STI/HCV
Program at Public Health – Seattle & King County.

Golden said syphilis infections unknowingly passed on from the
mother with an existing infection to their baby, can have
devastating effects, including stillbirth or miscarriage.

"There is a wide spectrum of things that can happen. There can be
effects on the brain, there can be blindness, there could be
difficulties with the bones, there could be physical
manifestations," Golden said.

According to the CDC, congenital syphilis can also cause severe
anemia, skin rashes, and jaundice.

As with nationwide trends, in Washington state, newborn syphilis
cases have spiked in recent years. Data provided by the Washington
Department of Health showed in 2019, there were 17 cases of
congenital syphilis. In 2020, ten cases. In 2021, 53 cases, and in
2022, there were 52 cases.

In King County, data from Public Health – Seattle & King County
shows congenital syphilis went from 0 in 2016, to 1 in 2020, then
rose to 21 in 2023, a number Golden said is significant.

"Of course, it's not a huge number of people, but when you start
talking about babies dying, babies who are potentially going to have
permanent disability, it's a tragedy and it's an avertable tragedy,"
Golden said.

The cases are noticeably linked to a general rise of syphilis among
heterosexual adults. Newborn cases in King County trended up, along
with a rise in cases among pregnant women.

"Unfortunately some people do not get prenatal care and consequently
we only become aware of the case after the baby is born or in
delivery," Golden said.

The CDC points out that awareness is critical, as congenital
syphilis is preventable if a pregnant woman is tested and treated at
least a month before delivering the baby.

As for why cases are going up now, Golden pointed to larger societal
issues.

"I think the biggest factor for us, is the homelessness and the
substance use," Golden said, a group that may have less access to
health care, which does include critical prenatal care. "If people
are in very desperate circumstances, are they trading sex for money
or other things they need? I think that puts them at risk for STIs
and on top of it, they aren't necessarily getting the medical care
that they would ideally get when they're pregnant."

Public health departments have been raising awareness of this and
targeting vulnerable groups to access prenatal care and to screen
for syphilis among adults more widely.

The Washington State Department of Health and Public Health –
Seattle & King County recommends all sexually active women 45 and
under who have not had a syphilis test since January 2021 to test
for syphilis.

More information can be found here.

https://publichealthinsider.com/2022/11/28/new-public-health-
recommendations-make-a-syphilis-test-routine-for-women-45-and-under/

https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/newborn-syphilis-cases-
western-washington-surge-nationwide-trend-healthlink/281-b4c66638-
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