Syphilis cases are spiking in Marion County, with a 216% increase from 2018 to 2022, Marion County Health and Human Services data shows.
The rise in cases is widespread, according to the health department. It said there was no clear reason for the spike. Officials are encouraging anyone age 45 and younger who has been sexually active to get tested.
“Syphilis rates are rising among men, women and newborns. Fortunately, syphilis remains 100% preventable and treatable when affected community members have access to healthcare,” Marion County public health officer Dr. Caroline Castillo said.
Syphilis spreads through person-to-person sexual contact, mainly through direct contact with a syphilitic sore, which may not always be easy to see. Some people can have syphilis without even knowing it.
Congenital syphilis cases, which are contacted during pregnancy, are also on the rise. There has been a 235% increase in congenital syphilis nationwide since 2016, preliminary Center for Disease Control data shows.
Congenital syphilis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, illness and death in newborns.
Marion County has also seen an increase in gonorrhea and chlamydia cases, according to county data.
The county health department provides free sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment at its public clinic at 3180 Center Street NE in Salem. To schedule an appointment, call 503-588-5342.
Everyone is eligible for testing at the public clinic, even those without health insurance.
Who is impacted?
Anyone who is sexually active can contract syphilis. The only way to fully avoid syphilis or other sexually transmitted infections is to not have sexual contact.
The risk of contracting syphilis can be reduced by properly using condoms and getting tested regularly when sexually active.
In Marion County, the highest rate of syphilis is among adults age 20-39.
The county is currently seeing more positive cases in white men but emphasized the rise in cases is not isolated to a specific group or demographic.
Positive test … what next?
Syphilis testing is done using a blood test. If the test is positive, it is typically treated with penicillin.
Individuals who receive a positive test can receive treatment at the Marion County Health clinic or from their local healthcare provider.
Marion County Health can provide bus passes to individuals needing transportation to the clinic, and sometimes it will give gas cards to those with financial barriers.
Marion County Health stressed the importance of seeking treatment after testing positive. Untreated Syphilis can cause long-term health problems such as dementia, heart disease, nerve damage and blindness.Syphilis occurs in four stages, with symptoms worsening as the infection progresses.
- Primary: Characterized by a sore found where the bacteria entered the body. This stage can progress without an individual knowing, as the sore can be painless and not always visible. Though the sore will heal without treatment, the syphilis bacteria remains in the body and is contagious.
- Secondary: A skin rash will be found on the body. The rash typically does not hurt or itch and will heal on its own. Other sores can appear on the body during this stage, and fever, fatigue, weight loss, muscle aches, headaches and swollen lymph nodes may occur.
- Latent: There are no visible symptoms during this stage, but it can last for years. At this point, the infection might begin to affect the heart, bones, nerves or organs.
- Tertiary: Not all individuals with untreated syphilis will develop this stage. The infection is not contagious anymore, but can lead to serious heart and nervous system damage, and in the most severe cases, death.
Sydney Wyatt covers healthcare inequities in the Mid-Willamette Valley for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions, and tips to her atSWyatt@gannett.com, (503) 399-6613, or on Twitter@sydney_elise44
The Statesman Journal’s coverage of healthcare inequities is funded in part by theM.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, which seeks to strengthen the cultural, social, educational, and spiritual base of the Pacific Northwest through capacity-building investments in the nonprofit sector.
