Syphilis Cases On The Rise In Eastern PA, Officials Warn

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA — Syphilis cases are on the rise in at least some parts of southeastern Pennsylvania, according to officials.

The Pennsylvania Health Advisory Network issued an warning regarding an increase in reported cases in Delaware County on Tuesday.

Current trends in Delaware County will lead to a projected 104 percent increase in syphilis, officials said. Reported early syphilis for 2021 is expected to exceed 210 cases.

In August, state officials noted that syphilis cases had gone up statewide in 2020 to 535 cases, marking the highest numbers in about 30 years.

During the first half of 2021, Delaware County reported 104 early syphilis (primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis) cases which has already exceeded the total reported number of early syphilis for all of 2020.

The projected 210 cases of early syphilis reported for 2021 will represent the highest number of cases reported in the county in 20 years.

Women are projected to report 50 cases of early syphilis by the end of 2021, which will represent a 178 percent increase over the 18 cases reported in 2020.

Of these early syphilis cases among women reported in the first half of 2021, women of child-bearing age — ages 15 to 44 — represented 84 percent of the cases.

Due to the significant increase in syphilis in Delaware County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is recommending pregnant females receive testing for syphilis at the first prenatal visit, third trimester of pregnancy, and at delivery.

Below are testing recommendations from state health officials:

All pregnant women should be offered a test for syphilis at the following intervals:

• At the first prenatal visit

• At the third trimester of pregnancy

• At the delivery of a child, or

• At the delivery of a stillborn child

• All patients with a recent positive test for another sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea or chlamydia need to be tested for syphilis and HIV.

All patients with any of the following symptoms or conditions should be tested for syphilis:

• A macular and/or papular rash on the palms of the hands and/or on the soles of the feet
• A generalized rash that may be macular, papular, or papulosquamous on the back, chest, or stomach
• A lesion in the genital, rectal, or oral area
• Moist papules in the anogenital region or the mouth
• Sudden “Moth-eaten” scalp alopecia with a typical onset at the back of the head
• Loss of eyelashes and the lateral third of the eyebrows
• Generalized lymphadenopathy
• Malaise

More information on syphilis including symptoms and treatment is online here.