Syphilis epidemic breaks out in Lanarkshire with health experts warning victims could go BLIND if not treated
Health board officials are warning punters to protect themselves after seeing a rise in the sexually transmitted disease
A SYPHILIS epidemic has broken out in Lanarkshire with medical experts warning that victims could go BLIND if not treated.
Health board officials are warning punters to protect themselves after seeing a spike in the sexually transmitted disease.
If left untreated the infection can cause serious damage to the heart, arteries, nervous system and may lead to blindness.
The increase has been found most in men and women over the age of 20-years-old.
Victims of the virus are suffering from sores in their genitals and mouth, along with a rash all over their body.
Although some people may have zero symptoms but still be infected by the disease.
Health experts are now urging the public to be safe over the festive season and get tested as soon as possible.
They are warning that bacterial infection is easily passed on by unprotected sex.
Symptoms can sprout between 10 days to 12 weeks after infection and are usually painless.
Now NHS Lanarkshire is trying to battle the spike in diagnoses by launching a ' festive public awareness social media campaign' to promote safer sex.
They highlighted that the increase has been most marked in 'heterosexual men and women aged over 20, and in gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men'.
Even though an increase in the number of cases of syphilis in 16-20 year olds has not been seen, the campaign will also target this important group.
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Dr John Logan, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health medicine, said: “The festive party season is often associated with an increase in risk-taking sexual behaviour.
“Some people are not aware of the risk of syphilis or see it as an infection of the past.
“That’s not the case and with an increase in the number of people in Lanarkshire being diagnosed with syphilis, we feel it is important to highlight to people the risks of unprotected sex.
“Although the number of cases is relatively small – in Lanarkshire in 2017 there were 19 cases of heterosexually acquired syphilis and 48 cases in men who have sex with men – Lanarkshire residents, who make up about 12 per cent of the Scottish population, accounted for one third of the heterosexual cases in Scotland in 2017.
"We want people to be aware of what syphilis is, how it can be prevented and treated, and what the harmful long-term impact of untreated syphilis infection can be.
“When diagnosed syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, but if not treated it can cause serious damage to the heart, arteries, nervous system and may lead to blindness.”
NHS Lanarkshire is working jointly with the Lanarkshire Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) Prevention & Care Network, Health Protection Scotland, Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), Waverley Care and North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships to address the issue.
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Dr Anne McLellan, Lead Clinician for the Lanarkshire sexual health service, added: “Clearly the best approach is to practise safer sex and prevent infection.
“It is important for people to understand that oral sex can lead to sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis as some people aren’t aware of this.
“If you feel you may have put yourself at risk, contact a sexual health clinic for a sexual health check-up – even if you are not experiencing symptoms.
We recommend that gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men, who have been at risk attend a sexual health clinic every three months for a regular check-up.
“You can get a Fastest carried out by THT – a free drop-in service – which will give you the results in less than five minutes.
“It’s better to get tested and treated as soon as possible, especially if you have in the past, or recently, had unprotected sex”.
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