Children infected with syphilis are a part of a growing tragedy – one that would easily be prevented

Data Just published online. Australia shows an alarming increase in cases of infectious syphilis amongst women aged 15-44 (known as the “reproductive age”) and a consequent increase in transmission from pregnant parent to child. It is known as Congenital syphilis.

Congenital syphilis will be easily prevented by timely diagnosis and treatment of syphilis while pregnant. If left untreated, congenital syphilis can occur. Disastrous results More than 50% of cases include miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and everlasting disability.

We reviewed all cases of congenital syphilis in Australia between 2011 and 2021 and tragically found that 25% were stillborn. For birth parents of youngsters with congenital syphilis, we found that fewer than 40% were tested for syphilis in pregnancy. About half had no record of receiving prenatal care.

There have been experts. Aware of the resurgence of syphilis in Australia for a while. But ours is the primary evaluation to disclose significant gaps in prenatal care, with devastating consequences.

Syphilis cases have been on the rise for a decade.

Between 2011 and 2021, Rates of infectious syphilis Women aged 15-44 increased by greater than 500%, from 141 in 2011 to 902 in 2021. This reflects a more widespread increase. Among the youth.

Before 2011, infectious syphilis was rare. When cases began to extend, it was initially amongst men with male sexual partners in metropolitan areas, and young gay people in distant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Health departments increased testing and launched public health campaigns to cut back transmission.

Despite these efforts, there are cases of syphilis. It kept growing, and the initial outbreak has spread across Australia. Federal, state, and territory governments have made significant investments to extend syphilis diagnosis and treatment, including community-based screening, media campaigns, health workforce education, and rapid test results. Approach testing.

Cases of congenital syphilis are also on the rise in Australia International trends.

Between 2011 and 2019 the median was 4. Cases of congenital syphilis per year In Australia, a rise of 17 cases in 2020, and 15 in 2021 and 2022. 20 cases were reported in 2023.

This number could seem small. But without motion, this upward trend will result in high mortality and everlasting disability in children with congenital syphilis – a preventable disease.

What can we do about it?

Now is the time to focus directly on reducing syphilis transmission, and particularly the consequences of syphilis in pregnancy.

Testing while pregnant ranges from one test to 5 tests throughout the pregnancy, if the pregnant person is taken into account high risk or lives in an outbreak area in distant Australia. Recommendations are provided by state and territory health departments, and vary across Australia, but work is ongoing to harmonize guidelines.

But in lots of cases no screening is happening.

An increase in infectious and congenital syphilis is probably going. Associated with social determinants of health (non-medical aspects that affect health outcomes) including homelessness, unstable housing, poverty, domestic violence, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, cultural or language barriers, racism, and discrimination in health care .

our the study Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reported 35 times higher rates of syphilis than non-Indigenous women. This is probably going on account of the lingering effects of colonization, structural barriers and access to health care.

To reverse the present trend of accelerating numbers of youngsters with congenital syphilis we urgently must:

• Explore accessible models of look after pregnant women wherever they connect with the health system.

• Improve partner screening and treatment

• Improve monitoring of testing in pregnancy.

Not only a medical checkup

For pregnant women, we want to make sure a holistic approach to care, co-designed in partnership with affected communities. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, this may occasionally include greater access. Taking birth on country programs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends Partners are routinely tested for syphilis. To achieve eradication of congenital syphilis.

And we want higher surveillance of syphilis testing while pregnant. WHO has set a world goal of eliminating congenital syphilis with a goal of 95% of pregnant women tested for syphilis while pregnant. Currently in Australia there isn't any way of knowing how close or far we're to this goal.

Congenital syphilis is totally preventable, and it's a tragedy that any pregnancy leads to it.

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