Congenital Syphilis: The Death of Babies Is a Harbinger of Worsening Public Health System
“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti
The United States experiences one of the highest rates of infant deaths among developed nations. One of the contributors to such high rates in the US is congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis has sextupled in the past two decades, rising from 441 total cases in the US in 2001 to 2,677 in 2021. In stark contrast, it was believed that syphilis would be eradicated across the nation by the end of the 1990s. But as we have seen, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have risen year over year, largely due to a lack of funding and focus. Now syphilis cases continue to grow and target one of the most vulnerable populations: infants.
Syphilis contracted by a pregnant parent can be passed on to their baby in utero resulting in miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births, a low birth weight, or death shortly following birth. Babies born with congenital syphilis may suffer from severe anemia, an enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, brain and nerve problems including blindness, deafness, meningitis, skin rashes, or deformed bones.
At this point, we are far beyond any chance of eradicating syphilis or other STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a total of 171,074 new syphilis diagnoses in 2021 alone. Experts believe this number is actually underreported due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced STI testing in the US.
Infant mortality, which describes the death of a baby between birth and one year of age, is an important indicator of the overall health of a community. Babies are highly vulnerable, and factors that impact everyone’s health impact babies the most. This includes not only syphilis but air quality, nutritious food, access to medicine and healthcare professionals, and a wide range of other elements that can be detrimental to well-being. Protecting the babies within our communities is protecting every member of the community.
Recently, Mississippi reported a 900% increase in congenital syphilis over the last five years. The state already had the highest rate of infant mortality at 8.71 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to the national rate of 5.58. Other states with devastatingly high increases in congenital syphilis over the past five years include Oklahoma, Washington, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Arizona.
Syphilis can mimic other infections which makes it difficult to recognize when symptoms arise. To prevent passing syphilis to an unborn child, pregnant parents should be tested for syphilis during the first prenatal visit regardless of their perceived risk. A test will identify an infection and a round of antibiotic treatment will prevent any further risk to the baby. Sometimes symptoms of syphilis will appear and disappear within a few weeks, and one may assume their body has cleared the problem on its own, but in fact, the infection remains. Syphilis is merely lying dormant and will eventually reappear, causing quiet damage to parents and their babies.
A pregnant person experiencing syphilis can fall through the cracks in a healthcare system at several vital points, which may cause reinfection in the future. Healthcare begins with adequate screening from a medical provider during the initial prenatal visit, follow-up screenings during the 28–32-week prenatal medical appointment, and a final screening during delivery. If a syphilis test is reactive, treatment can be administered immediately. To prevent further spread or reinfection, partners should also be tested and treated. And finally, case management may be needed as extra support for pregnant persons who have additional social or health concerns.
Syphilis is easily curable, but not everybody knows this STI is such a high risk for pregnancies. Being aware of the risk can help you and the people you care about advocate for healthcare providers to offer this quick, lifesaving test and treatment.
To prevent syphilis, use a condom every time you have sex and get tested regularly for STIs. Condoms are the first line of defense against syphilis and other STIs, HIV, and unplanned pregnancies; testing ensures you can access treatment before an infection spreads to your partner or baby. People may have shifted away from a culture of condom use, but the epidemic of life-threatening STIs is stronger than ever. Condoms save lives.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the world, providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 1.7 million people in 45 countries. Find out if there is a location near you for free HIV and STI testing: https://www.freestdcheck.org
