Monterey County Health Dept: Congenital syphilis on the rise
The Monterey County Health Department announced an increase in congenital syphilis in Monterey County, following a nation and statewide trend.
Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno said they've seen at least five cases in the past five years, and while that may not sound like a lot, it is compared to the zero cases they saw 15 years prior.
"About four years ago in California there was about 50 cases of congenital syphilis," Moreno said. In 2017, the most recent data, there were 278 babies born in California with syphilis. There were 918 cases nationwide.
The consequences of congenital syphilis include deformed bones, severe anemia, blindness, and deafness among other symptoms.
Moreno said the rise in congenital syphilis is linked to more women contracting the disease.
"We believe the reason more women are getting infected is because women are having unprotected sex with men who have multiple sex partners," Moreno said specifically emphasizing, "men who also have sex with other men."
Moreno said three years ago, 90 percent of new syphilis cases in Monterey County involved men who slept with other men.
Now just three years later, 40 percent of new diagnoses are women.
Syphilis can also be difficult to detect in its infancy. It is known as the great imitator because it may cause symptoms similar to many other diseases.
Moreno also said medical advancements with deadly sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS could be a reason people are worried less and getting screened less.
"If a mother is infected and doesn't get treatment or adequate treatment, the infection spreads to the baby and sometimes has terrible consequences," Moreno said.
But he also said those consequences can be easily avoided with antibiotics and proper prenatal care.
"It's really important for doctors to know that all pregnant women should be screened for syphilis," Moreno said. "If a doctor has any trouble figuring out how to treat a woman with syphilis or is having trouble finding the medication, the antibiotic to treat syphilis they should definitely call us here at the health department and the county health department."
Santa Cruz County is also reporting increases in congenital syphilis over the past three years.
California ranks second to only Louisiana for the highest rate of congenital syphilis.