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Syphilis in the United States.
Solomon Shockman1, Lucinda S Buescher1, Stephen P Stone1
1Division of Dermatology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois.
Clinics in Dermatology
|February 25, 2014
Summary
Syphilis, a historically significant disease, continues to infect humans despite medical advancements. Recent trends show a concerning increase in syphilis incidence in the United States, particularly among men who have sex with men.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Syphilis has a long history, emerging in Europe in the 1500s and potentially originating in the Americas.
- Historically known as "the great imitator," syphilis presents with diverse symptoms, mimicking other conditions.
- Despite penicillin's discovery, syphilis remains a persistent public health concern with cyclical incidence patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the incidence of syphilis in the United States.
- To analyze the epidemiological shifts in syphilis transmission.
- To explore the reasons behind ongoing syphilis trends.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical data on syphilis incidence.
- Analysis of epidemiological trends from 1990 to the present.
- Examination of demographic shifts in syphilis transmission.
Main Results:
- Syphilis incidence in the United States has shown numerous increases over the past 70 years.
- A significant epidemiological shift occurred between 1990 and 2000.
- Since the new millennium, a majority of syphilis cases are transmitted among men who have sex with men (MSM).
Conclusions:
- Syphilis continues to be a significant infectious disease with recurring outbreaks.
- The epidemiology of syphilis has shifted, with MSM now representing the majority of cases.
- Understanding these trends is crucial for effective public health interventions and syphilis control.
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