Congenital syphilis is on the rise in the United States, with cases nearly tripling in recent years. This alarming trend is driven by a lack of prenatal care and inadequate treatment of pregnant women with syphilis. Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant woman with syphilis passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth and it can have devastating consequences, including stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight, and serious health problems in the baby.
According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 1,870 cases of congenital syphilis in the US in 2022, compared to 644 cases in 2015. The states with the highest rates of congenital syphilis were Texas, California, and Louisiana. The report notes that the vast majority of cases could have been prevented with timely and appropriate prenatal care, including testing and treatment for syphilis.
The rise in congenital syphilis is part of a larger trend of increasing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the US, which experts attribute to a combination of factors, including decreased access to healthcare, the stigma surrounding STIs and changing sexual behaviour.
To address this growing public health issue, the CDC is calling for increased screening and treatment of pregnant women for syphilis and other STIs, as well as increased public education and awareness campaigns. Pregnant women must receive timely and appropriate care to prevent the transmission of syphilis to their babies and to ensure the health of both mother and child.