CDC Warns Cases of Congenital Syphilis Have Reached 'Dire Levels'

CDC Warns Cases of , Congenital Syphilis , Have Reached 'Dire Levels'.
On November 7, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention released a report warning that
cases of newborn syphilis are rapidly on the rise. .
On November 7, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention released a report warning that
cases of newborn syphilis are rapidly on the rise. .
NBC reports that the number of cases have
increased over tenfold in the last ten years.
The CDC warns that the number
of cases in the United States
have reached "dire levels.".
In 2022, over 3,700 cases were
reported to the CDC, an increase from
the 2,855 cases reported in 2021.
In 2012, just 335 cases of
newborn syphilis were documented. .
NBC reports that congenital syphilis can potentially
cause stillbirths, miscarriages or developmental
disabilities like blindness or hearing loss.
In 2022, congenital syphilis caused
51 infant deaths and 231 stillbirths.
The CDC report notes that almost 90% of those
cases could have been avoided through timely
testing and treatment during pregnancy.
The authors of the report call for increased
testing, particularly in settings that typically
see patients with limited access to health care. .
We are recommending that
screening really increase for syphilis
outside of traditional prenatal care, Dr. Robert McDonald, lead author of the report and a medical
officer in the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, via NBC