By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) is reporting historic levels of early syphilis and congenital syphilis in 2022.

Image/CDC

In a health advisory last week, PADOH reports during the first 10 months of calendar year (CY) 2022 the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) reported 11 cases of Congenital Syphilis (exclusive of Philadelphia).

Based on current trends, the PADOH is projecting that Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia) will report 14 cases of Congenital Syphilis by the end of CY 2022. The projected 14 cases of Congenital Syphilis would represent the highest number of Congenital Syphilis cases reported in Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia) since 1990.

The leading factor for the increase of Congenital Syphilis has been the recent surge in overall Early Syphilis cases in females, with CY 2022 projected cases for Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia) expected to exceed 257 female cases with 86% of the cases in females of reproductive age, ages 15-44.

The projected total number of Early Syphilis Cases is 1,362 in Pennsylvania (exclusive of Philadelphia). This would represent the highest number of Syphilis cases since 1990.

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In response to the recent increases in both overall Congenital Syphilis and Early Syphilis among
females, the PADOH is recommending the following:

1. All pregnant females should be offered a test for syphilis at the following intervals:

  • At the first prenatal visit
  • At the third trimester of pregnancy
  • At the delivery of a child, or
  • At the delivery of a stillborn child

2. All individuals with a recent positive test for another sexually transmitted disease such as
gonorrhea or chlamydia should be tested for syphilis. All individuals with a recent positive test
for another sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea or chlamydia should be tested for
syphilis and HIV regardless of timing in pregnancy and in addition to the routine screening
recommendations for each.

3. All individuals presenting with any of the following symptoms or conditions should be tested
for syphilis:
• A macular and/or papular rash on the palms of the hands or on the soles of the feet
• A generalized rash that may be macular, papular, or papulosquamous on the back, chest,
or stomach
• A lesion in the genital, rectal, or oral area
• Moist papules in the anogenital region or the mouth
• Sudden “Moth-eaten” scalp alopecia with a typical onset at the back of the head
• Loss of eyelashes and the lateral third of the eyebrows
• Generalized lymphadenopathy
• Malaise