General News
Health Unit reports cases of syphilis on the rise
June 14, 2024 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is reporting that cases of syphilis are on the rise both nationally and in Ontario.
Since 2018, the number of syphilis cases in Simcoe Muskoka has increased by five times.
This risk of contracting the disease is higher for those having unprotected sex, especially with new or multiple partners.
Many people who have syphilis aren’t aware because they don’t recognize the symptoms and can pass on the infection without knowing.
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have syphilis.
When a pregnant person has syphilis, the infection can be spread to their unborn child. All pregnant women should receive testing for syphilis at the first prenatal visit. A health care provider may recommend repeat testing throughout the pregnancy, depending on individual risk factors.
Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have syphilis. You should get tested if you or your partner has signs and symptoms, if you’ve had unprotected sex, or are pregnant.
Testing requires a simple blood test.
Syphilis is a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection. It is known as ‘The Great Pretender’ as symptoms can look like many other diseases.
If untreated, the disease progresses through several stages.
The Primary Stage includes painless lesions or sores and typically lasts three to six weeks. During this stage, a person can pass the infection to others.
The Secondary Stage may have a rash, raised lesions, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and patchy hair loss.
The Early Latent Stage refers to a period where the infection has occurred within the past 12 months.
During this stage, a person can pass the infection to others through sexual activity or close physical contact.
Late-stage syphilis can cause serious health problems.
Syphilis is treatable, however, the earlier it is detected, the easier it is to treat.
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