2023-10-12 15:15:15
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that has plagued medicine for centuries, remains a major public health challenge in Europe. The region is facing a significant increase in syphilis cases. The incidence is increasing particularly among men who have sex with men, but also among women, leading to an increase in congenital syphilis. This development requires effective strategies to contain the current epidemic.
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The disease syphilis first appeared in Europe in 1495 and marked the beginning of a massive health crisis. Over the years, milestones such as the discovery of the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum in 1905, the development of the first serological test in 1906, and the introduction of penicillin to treat syphilis in 1943 have significantly shaped the understanding and treatment of the disease. As physician Sir William Osler once remarked, “He who knows syphilis knows medicine,” underscoring the complexity of the disease.
Syphilis remains an urgent problem worldwide. In 2020, the WHO estimated that 7.1 million adults between the ages of 15 and 49 were infected with syphilis. In 2021, approximately 24,000 cases of syphilis were reported in Europe, with the incidence rate increasing by a worrying 38% between 2012 and 2021. These figures should be interpreted with caution as reporting systems vary across European countries and the actual figures are likely to be higher. Among the various affected groups, men who have sex with men (MSM) have seen a surge in new cases of syphilis in recent years. “The assumption that the Covid-19 epidemic might have curbed the transmission of STIs can be refuted with these figures,” explains Dr. Eija Hiltunen-Back from the University Hospital in Helsinki, Finland.
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