A trio of common sexually transmitted diseases has reached record highs in the U.S., sounding the alarm about a rise in newborn deaths linked to syphilis, according to Marketwatch.
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The number of syphilis cases in their most-infectious stages (primary and secondary) rose 14% between 2017 and 2018, the most cases reported since 1991, the report said. The spike in congenital syphilis cases —syphilis passed from mothers to babies during pregnancy — is particularly troubling, since those cases increased 40% during the same period.
Three of the more commonly transmitted diseases — chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis — continue to break transmission records.
Compounding the problem is the fact that mutations of the bacteria that cause STD infections have led to a high incidence of antibiotic resistance, making it extremely difficult to treat.
Syphilis samples from the U.S., South America, Europe, Africa and Australasia found both of the two main strains of syphilis have developed antibiotic resistance.
Gonorrhea is already resistant to all antibiotics that have been used against it, and is rapidly developing resistance against cephalosporins, the drug of last resort.
Most talks of rising STD rates focus the blame on political issues (lack of funding), rising addiction rates (including to opioids) or less use of condoms, perhaps because fears of HIV/AIDs have dwindled in recent years. However, popular dating apps could also be playing a role, according to the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, by encouraging people to change partners frequently.
In one area in South Wales, cases of syphilis increased by fivefold over a four-month period, and the health board believed it could be due to more people using dating apps to meet up for unprotected sex. Because users often delete their partners' profiles after meeting them, it's also difficult to provide warnings if an STD is later diagnosed.
Being in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who does not have an STD will reduce your risk further, as will getting tested (both partners) before sexual intercourse with a new partner. Getting screened regularly is also important.
Cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were in decline until the 1970s, at which point the trend reversed.
The number of babies born infected with syphilis quadrupled, and with it, stillbirths spiked as well. Of the 278 congenital syphilis cases on record in California in 2017, 30 resulted in stillbirth, which is triple the number of syphilis-related stillbirths reported in 2016.
Syphilis can be transmitted via direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal or oral sex.
It’s possible for the infection to be transmitted by someone who doesn’t know that they even have syphilis. In some cases, the infection can be passed on after initial indicators have disappeared.
Pregnant women infected with syphilis can transmit the STD to their unborn baby and raise the infant’s risk for congenital syphilis. Pregnant women should be tested for syphilis during the first prenatal visit, to hopefully protect the baby and lower the risk of this infection. If you’re pregnant and test positive for syphilis, immediate treatment is crucial.
If you have an STD, make sure you eat plenty of fresh, whole foods and high quality fats while avoiding synthetic trans fats, fried foods, processed foods, sugar and grains. In addition, optimize your vitamin D levels, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and practice some sort of stress management such as meditation, prayer, yoga or the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).