ROGERS, Ark. (KFTA/KNWA) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the United States is seeing a high number of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis, and a Rogers OBGYN says she has seen an uptick in cases.
The CDC reports the U.S. is seeing the highest number of cases since the 1950s and the disease is being passed down to newborns. According to the Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas had 70 cases of congenital syphilis in newborns in 2022 which is up from the 50 cases in 2021. In 2017 only 13 cases were reported.
Syphilis is an old disease with reports tracing back to the 16th century.
“It just kind of starts with a red spot, that may later turn into an ulcer,” said Dr. Dianna Juarez, an OBGYN for Mercy Hospital in Rogers.
Juarez says the red spot may also turn into a rash. However, because it is often painless many people often ignore it.
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“Certainly it can progress to more severe disease and patients may have swollen lymph nodes throughout their body or they can have neuro-syphilis with mental and cognitive effects,” said Juarez.