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| Why is the sexually transmitted disease called syphilis spreading so rapidly around the world and what is its treatment? |
The venereal disease of syphilis, or gonorrhea, known in English as 'syphilis', has been known by various names since it was first recorded in 1490. These names include 'French disease', and 'Polish disease'.
But there is one name that has become the hallmark of this disease. This is called 'The Great Imitator' disease. The reason for this name is that syphilis is adept at mimicking other diseases so that its initial symptoms are usually ignored, but if the disease is not treated, its consequences can be serious. can leave
Tushar, 33, is a project officer in Amsterdam. He has been diagnosed with syphilis twice. He remembers the first time this news was given to him on WhatsApp by his then-sex partner.
They held me responsible, which was not possible. I found it all quite strange and took time to adjust too.
Tushar got his test done and then started treatment. "People think that it cannot be cured," he says. People do not know that even if someone has syphilis antibodies, it is also possible not to get this disease.
In April, the United States released data on sexually transmitted diseases, known as sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs.
According to these data, the number of people affected by this disease increased greatly between 2020 and 2021. In its 70-year history, cases of this disease have increased 32 times in a year, and the disease, which has become an epidemic, is not slowing down.
According to the CDC, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the rapid growth, some alarming trends have emerged this time around.
One such phenomenon is 'congenital syphilis', which is passed from a pregnant mother to her child who has the disease from her partner.
This type of disease can cause the death of the baby at birth. In addition, it can cause long-term health problems that last a lifetime.
These trends have alarmed health experts.
Leonardo Mena heads the CDC's division of sexually transmitted diseases.
He says that 15-20 years ago, 'we thought we were close to eliminating syphilis completely, but now there is no doubt that we are seeing it increase and in the last 20 years it has Disease has never spread so fast.'
This disease is not only spreading in America. According to the World Health Organization, in 2020, 7.1 million new cases of syphilis were reported worldwide. In 2022, the number of syphilis cases reached the highest level since 1948.
Sexual health experts are aware of this trend. Judy Crossman is from the UK STI Foundation. He says that when he started working in 2005, cases of syphilis were very few, but now two to three patients are coming for treatment in city clinics daily.
The cause of this disease is the bacterium called 'Treponema pallidum' and its symptoms appear in four stages.
In the first stage, inflammation or itching begins, but no pain is felt. This disease is treatable, but if left untreated, long-term neurological or cardiac complications may occur.
Isak Bogoch of the University of Toronto, Canada says that the trend we are seeing in different countries of the world is quite alarming because the treatment of this disease is usually easy. That is why it seems that problems have arisen in the health system.
In Canada, between 2011 and 2019, syphilis cases were 389 times higher than other sexually transmitted diseases.
In recent decades, the disease has become more common among homosexuals or men who have sex with both sexes, but on the other hand, the incidence of this disease among men is decreasing in some parts of the world. In Canada, for example, syphilis among men is now on the decline.
On the other hand, this disease is increasing in women not only in Canada but all over the world due to which the cases of 'congenital syphilis' have increased. In North and Latin America, 30,000 cases of mother-to-child transmission were reported in 2021, which health experts say is an 'unacceptable increase'.
Cases of congenital syphilis in the US were three and a half times higher in 2020 than in 2016. In 2021, the disease further increased, causing 220 babies to die before or at birth.
In some parts of the country, the incidence of this disease is more than in other regions. For example, in the state of Mississippi, such cases increased 900 times in five years. Most cases have occurred in black or Hispanic women.
Maria Sundaram is a research associate at Marshfield Clinical Research in Wisconsin, USA. They say these statistics show the racial discrimination that exists in the medical field.
The most vulnerable section of women, who use drugs or have been displaced, are also the most affected by the disease. The Corona epidemic has also increased inequality around the world.
Maria says there is a consensus in the medical community that the increase in STDs is related to the disruption in STD prevention efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.
Another issue is access to sexually transmitted disease testing facilities and social attitudes related to the disease are also.
A study in Brazil found an association between less educated women and cases of congenital syphilis. In many cases, women do not have access to facilities during pregnancy that can test for diseases such as syphilis.
Another study in California also highlighted the role of immigrants, medical insurance, and sexual or domestic violence against pregnant women. Half of the women interviewed in this study were of Hispanic or Latino descent.
In 2020, Australia also saw a 90% increase in syphilis cases compared to 2015. About 4,000 cases were in Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait coastal communities, which make up just 3.8% of Australia's population.
But on the one hand, where rising inflation and the Corona epidemic have put pressure on public health facilities, there has also been a change in human and social attitudes related to sexually transmitted diseases.
Maina says that the 1990s saw a big change after the treatment of AIDS. "AIDS is now seen as a disease and the fear of it is causing people not to use condoms or other methods for sex that were once considered the main means of preventing sexually transmitted diseases."
A study on the relationship between dating apps and syphilis cases in Japan found that the use of dating apps was associated with syphilis.
Sasaki Chiwawa, a Japanese youth and sex writer, says, "Many sex workers are no longer using condoms, nor are they asking clients to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases."
"If a sex worker gets a venereal disease, they call it bad luck because for most of them, earning money is more important."
Health experts say that there is medicine to prevent this disease but it is important to identify it through more tests. It is also important to tackle the negative social attitudes associated with sexually transmitted diseases, for which public awareness campaigns and safe sex promotion are important.
Crossman says there should be no shame in being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. "It's just like getting a cold or flu."
"We want people to understand that it's essential to having a good sex life, rather than being afraid of it," he says.
However, so far scientists have not been able to agree on a single theory as to why this disease is spreading so rapidly.
Mena says there is no evidence that the disease has become stronger than before, while Bogoch says antibiotic resistance is not high enough to be attributed to the rise in the disease.
As for Tushar, he gets his test done every three months.
"We shouldn't have a problem talking about it," he says. Apparently educated people also come down on blame. They should think scientifically. It happens when we have sex.