Ancient Scourge Continues (Syphilis)

In the dark ages, it was called the Great Pox. In today’s enlightened world it’s called – a continuing public health concern. This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health. Syphilis is often down, but never out for society. Finally, after centuries of ravage, doctors find a simple cure for the disease – penicillin – and incautious life styles fire it back into the mainstream.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, syphilis in the US is again on the rise. “After declining every year (during the 1990’), the rate of primary and secondary syphilis in the US increased (in the first two years after 2000). And where the increase was follows social patterns. Rates of syphilis decreased among both men and women who were African-American and Asian; they didn’t change in the rest of the female population; but they increased markedly among Hispanic men and even more among non-Hispanic white men. Of the just over 6,000 cases of syphilis reported annually the biggest increase occurred in men who have sex with men.

To control this ancient, resurrected, sexually transmitted disease, the CDC, in 1999, launched the National Syphilis Elimination Plan. Initially, efforts were most intense among minorities in the southern states, where syphilis rates had been the highest. Now, the CDC is working with state and local public health organizations to develop and evaluate effective intervention strategies directed toward men who have sex with men. For a copy of this script and journal reference, access our web site: speakingofhealth.com. Speaking of Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, for CBS News.

Ref: MMWR 2003; 52:1117-1120.