Syphilis is a rare and highly contagious bacterial infection spread primarily by sexual activity. It's currently reaching elevated concerns, fueled by a variety of contributing factors. Syphilis rates, along with other sexually transmitted diseases, in the U.S. have been on the rise since 2012 and are currently reaching a 20-year peak. More than 1 million people worldwide are infected daily by sexually transmitted infections chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and syphilis, according to World Health Organization estimates. Distributors, like Concordance, assist healthcare providers as they stock up on important and necessary supplies to diagnose and treat those affected by syphilis.
Growing Concerns
Public health officials are seeing record-high syphilis rates around the nation, with drug use as one of the primary contributing factors. Syphilis rates are setting records nationally, jumping 44 percent from 2016-2017 and 133 percent from 2013-2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Furthermore, nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017, according to preliminary data released in August 2018 by the CDC at the National STD Prevention Conference in Washington, D.C. This surpassed the previous record set in 2016 by more than 200,000 cases and marked the fourth consecutive year of sharp increases in these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Recognizing Symptoms
Syphilis is primarily spread by sexual activity as well as through blood exposure. Common associated symptoms include:
Syphilis develops incrementally in stages with variant symptoms at each stage. The First stage is accompanied by a painless sore that appears on the mouth, genitals or rectum. In the Second stage, after the sore heals, a rash follows. A lapse in symptomatic representation are typical in the Third and final stage, sometimes occurring years later, which can result in brain damage, heart issues, as well as problems with eyes and nerves.
Testing and Treatment
Healthcare providers can detect and diagnose syphilis with syphilis testing kits. Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin like chlamydia, gonorrhea and other STDs. If left untreated, it can lead to organ damage and even death. Healthcare providers can communicate the importance of making STD screenings and timely treatment a standard part of personal medical care, in order to reverse current trends.
With an experienced team and access to thousands of suppliers, Concordance Healthcare Solutions is prepared to provide the supplies you need.
Last updated June 7, 2019.