STDs Are Running Rampant in the U.S.—with Congenital Syphilis Leading the Way

For the sixth year in a row, cases of sexually transmitted diseases eclipsed previously historic numbers in the United States, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis all grew in 2019, adding up to 2.5 million cases, capping a nearly 30% increase over a 5-year period. Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that congenital syphilis nearly quadrupled during that time. Despite treatment options, STDs cause roughly 2.7 deaths per 100,000 annually; most are attributed to HIV and human papillomavirus. Cases were disproportionately high among African-Americans, Hispanics, gay and bisexual men, and young adults. The CDC now recommends that conduct testing on a broader scale, in an effort to diagnose and treat infections earlier in their course. To get some insights into the role you could play in fighting the consequences of STDs in your area, read Syphilis in the Urgent Care Center in the JUCM archives.