Worrying huge increase in cases of syphilis here

There has been a ‘worrying’ rise in the number of cases of syphilis in Ireland new figures show.

While sexually transmitted infections (STI) are on the rise globally there has been a large jump in cases over the past year.

New data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), showed by the end June the incidence of syphilis is up 31 per cent, from 413 cases in the first six months of 2023, to 544 during the same period this year.

Derek Freedman, a consultant in STIs and HIV, described the increase in syphillis as ‘very worrying’.

‘It’s a very serious infection with long-term consequences. It normally begins with a silent sore that they cannot see,’ he told the Irish Times.

‘It’s very easily treated. But long term, it can affect any organ in your body, including your heart. Its impact on bones is well established, as well as skin and particularly the brain. It can cause dementia and paralysis.’

He suggested a post-Covid increase in sexual activity, travel, migration, dating apps and the availability of anti-HIV medication called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were all contributing to the rise in the number of cases.

‘People on PrEP know they are protected from HIV but they forget about the other possible infections,’ he added. ‘The big message is people should attend for screening. And people should always try and get the name and number of people they’re with,’ he advised.

The World Health Organisation notes syphilis is a preventable and curable bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI). If untreated, it can cause serious health issues.

Many people with syphilis do not have symptoms or do not notice them. 

In 2022, WHO estimated that 8 million adults aged 15–49 acquired syphilis globally.  

Some countries that systematically monitor syphilis are showing an important increase in syphilis cases among men who have sex with men.

Syphilis increases the risk of acquiring HIV infection by approximately two-fold, as well as of other STIs, such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital herpes, among others.

Without treatment, the tertiary phase of syphilis may lead to several complications decades after infection.

It can affect multiple organs and systems, including brain, nerves, eyes, liver, heart, blood vessels, bones and joints. Tertiary syphilis can also cause death.

Neurosyphilis, ocular syphilis and otosyphilis can occur at any stage of the disease. It can cause strong headache, serious muscular problems and mental health issues, including dementia.

Ocular syphilis can cause pain in the eye, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or blindness and can affect a person’s hearing and balance.

But for pregnant women untreated syphilis may lead to severe negative consequences, such as stillbirth, neonatal death, prematurity, low birth weight and life-long health problems to the infected infant.