6 STDs doctors often miss: Are you at risk?
Syphilis And Many Other STDs Are On The Rise: Here's What You Should ...
Massachusetts reported a case of monkeypox in a man who recently traveled to Canada on May 18, 2022. FOX Medical Team correspondent Dr. Mike Cirigliano discusses the rare virus.
NEW YORK (AP) - Sharply rising cases of some sexually transmitted diseases — including a 26% rise in new syphilis infections reported last year — are prompting U.S. Health officials to call for new prevention and treatment efforts.
"It is imperative that we ... Work to rebuild, innovate, and expand (STD) prevention in the U.S.," said Dr. Leandro Mena of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a speech Monday at a medical conference on sexually transmitted diseases.
Infections rates for some STDs, including gonorrhea and syphilis, have been rising for years. Last year the rate of syphilis cases reached its highest since 1991 and the total number of cases hit its highest since 1948. HIV cases are also on the rise, up 16% last year.
And an international outbreak of monkeypox, which is being spread mainly between men who have sex with other men, has further highlighted the nation's worsening problem with diseases spread mostly through sex.
David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, called the situation "out of control."
Officials are working on new approaches to the problem, such as home-test kits for some STDs that will make it easier for people to learn they are infected and to take steps to prevent spreading it to others, Mena said.
Another expert said a core part of any effort must work to increase the use of condoms.
"It's pretty simple. More sexually transmitted infections occur when people are having more unprotected sex," said Dr. Mike Saag, an infectious disease expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Syphilis is a bacterial disease that surfaces as genital sores but can ultimately lead to severe symptoms and death if left untreated.
New syphilis infections plummeted in the U.S. Starting in the 1940s when antibiotics became widely available. They fell to their lowest ever by 1998, when fewer than 7,000 new cases were reported nationwide. The CDC was so encouraged by the progress it launched a plan to eliminate syphilis in the U.S.
But by 2002 cases began rising again, largely among gay and bisexual men, and they kept going. In late 2013, CDC ended its elimination campaign in the face of limited funding and escalating cases, which that year surpassed 17,000.
A pedestrian walks along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 29, 2018 beneath a billoard from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) warning of a drug resistant Gonorrhea. - A billboard on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood screams out a stark
By 2020 cases had reached nearly 41,700 and they spiked even further last year, to more than 52,000.
The rate of cases has been rising, too, hitting about 16 per 100,000 people last year. That's the highest in three decades.
Rates are highest in men who have sex with men, and among Black and Hispanic Americans and Native Americans. While the rate for women is lower than it is for men, officials noted that it's has been rising more dramatically — up about 50% last year.
That ties to another problem — the rise in congenital syphilis, in which infected moms pass the disease on to their babies, potentially leading to death of the child or health problems like deafness and blindness. Annual congenital syphilis cases numbered only about 300 a decade ago; they surged to nearly 2,700 last year. Of last year's tally, 211 were stillbirths or infant deaths, Mena said.
The increases in syphilis and other STDs may have several causes, experts say. Testing and prevention efforts have been hobbled by years of inadequate funding, and spread may have gotten worse — especially during the pandemic — as a result of delayed diagnosis and treatment. Drug and alcohol use may have contributed to risky sexual behavior. Condom use has been declining.
And there may have been a surge in sexual activity as people emerged from COVID-19 lockdowns. "People are feeling liberated," Saag said.
The arrival of monkeypox added a large additional burden. CDC recently sent a letter to state and local health departments saying that their HIV and STD resources could be used to fight the monkeypox outbreak. But some experts say the government needs to provide more funding for STD work, not divert it.
Harvey's group and some other public health organizations are pushing a proposal for more federal funding, including at least $500 million for STD clinics.
Mena, who last year became director of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention, called for reducing stigma, broadening screening and treatment services, and supporting the development and accessibility of at-home testing. "I envision one day where getting tested (for STDs) can be as simple and as affordable as doing a home pregnancy test," he said.
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NewsHealthU.S.ExplainersSyphilis Up Among Minority Gay, Bisexual Men - Fox News
The rising U.S. Syphilis rate appears to be disproportionately striking minority gay and bisexual men, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Monday.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that can be easily cured with antibiotics in the early stages. But many people do not have symptoms early on, or don't recognize the symptoms, and continue to transmit the infection.
In the U.S., syphilis has been on the rise since 2000, when the national rate hit an all-time low of 2.1 cases per 100,000 people.
That increase has been largely among men, who had a rate of just under 8 cases per 100,000 in 2009 (versus 1.4 cases per 100,000 women), according to the CDC. And studies have suggested that gay and bisexual men now account for a majority of new syphilis cases.
Health officials are concerned about the resurgence not only because of syphilis itself, but also because the infection makes people more vulnerable to contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Now the new findings, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, show that minorities -- and young men, in particular -- are being hit hardest by syphilis.
Using data from 27 states, CDC researchers found that between 2005 and 2008, the syphilis rate among black gay and bisexual men rose at an 8-times faster clip compared with their white counterparts.
Hispanic gay and bisexual men, meanwhile, had more than twice the increase of white men.
By 2008, the syphilis rate among black gay and bisexual men was 19 per 100,000. Those figures were just over 7 per 100,000 among Hispanic men, and 4 per 100,000 among white men.
What's more, the CDC says, there has been a shift in the age group most affected by syphilis.
Ten years ago, outbreaks of the STD were largely reported among gay and bisexual men in their 30s.
But since 2005, teenagers and men in their 20s have shown the biggest increase in syphilis cases.
And 20- to 29-year-olds had the highest rates in 2008 -- at around 12 cases per 100,000.
Racial disparities in syphilis and other STDs have long been seen among U.S. Men in general. So the current findings are not especially surprising.
But the magnitude of the racial gap in this study is concerning, said lead researcher Dr. John R. Su, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC.
It's hard to pin down the precise reasons, Su told Reuters Health in an interview.
But he said it could reflect factors like lower incomes and education levels, and poorer access to healthcare -- in other words, some of the same race-related disparities seen among Americans in general.
As for young gay and bisexual men, some recent studies suggest that they are increasingly engaging in risky sex, including having unprotected intercourse and multiple partners.
The bottom line for gay and bisexual men is awareness, according to Su.
"First, you have to know you're at risk," he said. "Then have a frank discussion about it with your healthcare provider."
It's recommended that all sexually active gay and bisexual men be tested at least once a year for syphilis and other STDs, including HIV and gonorrhea, Su said. Staying in a monogamous relationship with a partner whose been tested, and using condoms consistently, reduce the chances of contracting syphilis and other STDs.
But the recent re-emergence of syphilis may require "novel" public-health responses, according to an editorial published with the study.
"For example, many MSM (men who have sex with men) with newly diagnosed syphilis or HIV met their sexual partners recently on the Internet," write Dr. Kenneth H. Mayer and Matthew J. Mimiaga of the Boston-based Fenway Institute, which specializes in healthcare for gay, bisexual and transgender patients.
So education and screening efforts, they say, need to target men where they go: online, and at clubs, bars and bathhouses.
Su agreed that more-innovative steps, like using the Internet or text-messaging to spread health messages, are promising.
He also pointed to programs that use "peer educators" -- lay people who are trained to help get health messages out to their local community.
Along with getting regular screening, at-risk men should know the potential signs of syphilis infection. The first is usually a single painless sore on the genitals, rectum or mouth (wherever the bacterium entered the body). Some weeks after that, a non-itchy rash may develop on different parts of the body. Some people also have flu-like symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, body aches and swollen glands.
About 15 percent of people with untreated syphilis eventually develop long-term complications, according to the CDC. Those include damage to the brain, nerves, heart and blood vessels that can prove fatal.
Victorian Diseases Are Making A Comeback - The Warning Signs To Look ...
10:52, 13 Jan 2024Updated 12:39, 13 Jan 2024
Experts have warned about the potential return of 'Victorian diseases ' like leprosy and syphilis as more cases of these Dickensian diseases are being noted in the US and across the globe.
These illnesses, once thought to be eradicated, are re-emerging in the US and other countries due to factors such as falling vaccination rates, lifestyle changes, climate change, and rising living costs. Bacteria are also becoming more resistant to antibiotics, a problem that health experts have been highlighting for years due to overuse. This threatens one of the most significant medical advancements of the past century.
Wealthy nations had managed to wipe out epidemics like measles and other historic diseases. However, recent events including the Covid pandemic, global warming leading to an 'era of global boiling', and lifestyle changes have created the ideal conditions for these diseases to make a comeback.
READ MORE: Family's heartbreak as teen's untreated UTI leads to septic shock and lands her in coma
MeaslesMeasles, one of the most infectious human diseases, used to cause over two million deaths every two to three years. But this changed when John Franklin Enders, known as the father of modern vaccines, developed a vaccine against it.
The first jab for measles came out in 1963, and lots of people got vaccinated after that. To keep measles away, about 95% of people need to be immune. But now, with Covid around and some folks not liking vaccines, not as many kids are getting their shots against this potentially devastating sickness.
In 2019, the US had 1,274 measles cases across 31 states - that's the most since 1992. The health bosses at the CDC said: "The majority of cases were among people who were not vaccinated." If you don't get the vaccine in the US, there's a good chance you could end up in hospital with measles.
If a kid gets measles, there's a risk they could get pneumonia, which is the main way young ones can die from it. The CDC also says that out of every 1,000 kids who catch measles, one might get brain swelling, which can lead to fits or make them deaf or have trouble learning.
Measles symptoms:
SyphilisSyphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. You can treat it with penicillin if you find it early, but if you don't, it can be really serious. More people in the US, including babies, are getting syphilis these days. Actually, ten times more babies are born with it now than ten years ago.
Pregnant women who don't catch and treat syphilis in time could risk miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, and a lifetime of health issues. Reported cases of babies born with syphilis in the US shot up in 2022 to 3,700, more than ten times as many recorded in 2012, as per the CDC.
The CDC observed: "The increase in newborn syphilis follows rising syphilis cases among women of reproductive age combined with social and economic factors that create barriers to high-quality prenatal care and ongoing declines in the prevention infrastructure and resources."
Syphilis, featuring four phases, shows varying signs. These are:
Primary stage:
In the initial stage, one or multiple sores might surface. The sore indicates where the infection entered your body, and usually emerges on or around the penis, vagina, anus, rectum or mouth/lips. Usually, these sores are firm, round, and painless.
Due to its painless nature, sores might go unnoticed. A sore ordinarily lasts three to six weeks, healing itself, but treatment is necessary to halt the worsening of the infection.
Secondary stage:
The secondary stage of syphilis may trigger skin rashes or sores in the mouth, vagina, or anus. Often beginning with a rash on a part or several parts of your body, this can appear when your primary sore is healing, or weeks after it heals.
The rash can also appear on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, looking rough, red or reddish brown. The rash usually won't itch and sometimes is so faint you can't notice it. You may also feel feverish, have swollen lymph glands, a sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue. These symptoms will disappear whether you get treatment or not. But if you don't get treated, your disease will progress to latent, or even tertiary stage.
Latent stage
The latent stage of syphilis is a period where there are no visible signs or symptoms. This means that without treatment, you can continue to have syphilis in your body for years, even if you have no sores or rashes and feel otherwise healthy.
Tertiary stage
Most people with untreated syphilis do not progress to the tertiary stage. However, for those that do it's a dangerous position to be in. Syphilis can impact multiple organ systems at this stage, including the heart and blood vessels, and the brain and nervous system.
Tertiary syphilis is an incredibly serious diagnosis and can happen 10 to 30 years after the infection first began. Tertiary syphilis can damage your internal organs, meaning it can result in death.
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GoutGout, a painful form of arthritis, occurs when small crystals form around the joints - most commonly the big toe. It was once known for impacting historic kings and queens who feasted on red meat and alcohol, but gout has made a comeback in wider society.
Gout, a type of arthritis, is on the rise worldwide, with the US and Canada seeing the biggest increases from 1990 to 2017. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in your body, which can form crystals in your joints, fluids, and tissues.
Being a man, overweight, having health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes, and eating foods high in fructose can all raise your risk of getting gout. Drinking alcohol, especially beer and spirits, can also increase your risk.
LeprosyLeprosy is a serious skin disease caused by bacteria. It can damage nerves and cause loss of feeling in the skin, eyes, and nose. Leprosy is rare in the US, with less than 200 cases reported each year.
However, Florida has seen a rise in cases over the past decade. Some people have reportedly caught leprosy after coming into contact with nine-banded armadillos, which can carry the bacteria that causes the disease.
Armadillos are believed to potentially be spreading bacteria by burrowing and pooing in the soil, which could infect people who touch it. However, recent cases in Florida don't seem to follow these usual ways of catching the disease, so scientists are looking into it more. Unhealthy lifestyles and not managing the condition well are being blamed for more people getting it.
Because leprosy is very rare, it often takes a long time for people to find out they have it and start treatment. This means they can spread the disease for longer. In the old days, people with leprosy were sent to faraway islands called leper colonies.
Thanks to new medicines, leprosy can now be cured with several months of taking multiple drugs and finding it early. The disease has many symptoms that mainly affect the skin, nerves, and wet areas inside the body's openings like the mouth.
Skin symptoms include:
Symptoms caused by nerve damage include:
Symptoms caused by the disease in mucous membranes include a stuffy nose and nosebleeds. If left untreated the signs of advanced leprosy can include:
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.Co.Uk
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