The resurgence of congenital syphilis in Australia: novel approaches and sustained, effective public health efforts are required
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: I n this issue of the MJA, Hengel and colleagues 1 report that the syphilis rate among women of reproductive age is rising in Australia.Their analysis of national notifications data indicate that 5011 cases of infectious syphilis in women aged 15-44 years were notified during 2011-2021, the annual number increasing from 141 in 2011 to 902 in 2021.During the same period, 74 cases of congenital syphilis were notified: 40 in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants, 32 in non-Indigenous infants, and two in infants of unknown Indigenous status.Seventeen of the infants were stillborn; the mothers of 41 infants with congenital syphilis resided in major cities, and 32 had not received antenatal care. 1 Until recently, syphilis cases in Australia were highly concentrated among men who have sex with men and in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.During the past decade, however, this has changed.The number of notifications among women living in urban areas has risen, leading to a worrying resurgence of congenital syphilis.2 Meanwhile, rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have continued to climb in several states and territories.1 Increased rates of congenital syphilis have also been reported in other high income countries, including the United States, where the number of cases increased by 755% during 2012-2022.3
Source: The Medical Journal of Australia
DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52393
Authors: Stephanie Bond, Marcus Y Chen
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4400896373