Congenital Syphilis Cases In IL Triple, IDPH Steps Up Data Collection

CHICAGO – After a troubling spike in congenital syphilis cases, the Illinois Department of Public Health has launched a new data collection program to help gather clinical information. A new online form will make it easier to collect comprehensive data by alerting public health officials when a person who tests positive for syphilis is pregnant.

The new online reporting form is for providers outside Chicago; those in Chicago report cases to the Chicago Department of Public Health. The new form replaces a slower process for mandatory reporting and takes about three minutes to complete. It will provide important clinical information about pregnant people and newborns to improve the required investigation by the local health department, as they assist clinicians in providing appropriate treatment, follow-up testing and partner testing and treatment.

The data improvement is expected to help the state’s efforts to turn around the rise of congenital syphilis by flagging new cases and enabling those who test positive in pregnancy to receive timely and adequate treatment, and prevent the long-term consequences of untreated syphilis in pregnancy.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. It’s curable, but has serious health repercussions if left untreated. Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person passes syphilis to their baby during pregnancy or childbirth. It can cause permanent damage or death in an infant if left untreated or undetected during prenatal care. Before birth, syphilis can cause a miscarriage, premature delivery, or low birth weight. Up to 40 percent of babies with congenital syphilis may be stillborn or die from the infection.

A baby with a syphilis infection may not have signs or symptoms of the infection at the time of birth. But if untreated, the baby may develop serious complications such as seizures or developmental delays. It could also lead to death in infancy or childhood.

Last fall, IDPH launched the Perinatal Syphilis Warmline (at 1-800-439-4079), a new phone service created to provide expert clinical guidance for prenatal healthcare providers. These steps come in response when congenital syphilis cases in Illinois more than tripled since 2020. Twenty-nine cases were reported in the state in 2020, 50 cases in 2021, 84 cases in 2022, and according to provisional data, 103 cases in 2023.

Healthcare providers are currently facing a nationwide Bicillin shortage, the only medication that treats syphilis in pregnancy and children. Until the shortage is alleviated, it is critical that providers prioritize Bicilin inventory for treatment of those for whom no other treatment options are available, pregnant persons and infants, IDPH said.