This report describes how health care providers outside of prenatal care settings can help prevent newborn syphilis through syphilis testing and treatment during pregnancy.
The largest jump, and perhaps most concerning, was the uptick in cases of congenital syphilis when newborns are infected while in the womb. Those rates in 2019 were nearly four times higher than they were in 2015.
Early 2020 data suggests that disruptions to STI testing and treatment services during the COVID-19 pandemic will most likely contribute to these concerning numbers and have a major impact on public health.
When left untreated, STIs can lead to other health issues including cancer, experts say. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are often asymptomatic. Chlamydia can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease. Gonorrhea can cause infertility in men. Syphilis can lead to heart disease, blindness, mental health issues and infant death.