Increasing syphilis cases highlight treatment barriers across Ohio

The Hamilton County, Ohio public health department recently reported syphilis cases reached a six-year high in 2023, representing nearly an 80% increase in cases since 2018.

Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the UC College of Medicine, told the Cincinnati Enquirer said the rise of syphilis does not mean people are having more unprotected sex.

“Most of the studies I’ve seen over the past two to three years do not point to any greater incidence of unprotected sex,” Fichtenbaum said. “There’s always been a very steady rate of sex without condoms.” 

While the causes of the increase are complex, barriers to testing and treatment are more easily identified. 

“Most primary providers are not equipped to treat syphilis,” Fichtenbaum said. “It’s much easier to treat chlamydia and gonorrhea, because you can write prescriptions. We've really not done a very good job with prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

Fichtenbaum said it is important to get tested even if you are not experiencing symptoms. For some stages of syphilis, months or years can pass without any sign of the disease.

“If you’ve been in contact with someone who may have had a sexually transmitted infection, it’s very important that you go get yourself tested,” he said.

Read the Cincinnati Enquirer article. (Note: Subscription may be needed to access full article.)

Featured photo at top of test tubes and paper blood test form. Photo/Rapid Eye/iStock.