The Great Imitator: Why Syphilis is on the Rise

Syphilis has been called many names since it was first recorded in the 1490s, but one has stuck: “the great imitator”. Syphilis is so adept at mimicking other infections that the first signs are often easy to miss and, if left untreated, can cause serious consequences.

Tushar, a 33-year-old project officer from Amsterdam, experienced this first-hand after his sexual partner informed him that they had syphilis. The US recently released data on sexually transmitted infections (STI) that revealed a 32% increase in syphilis cases in the past year, the highest number of reported incidences in 70 years.

Congenital syphilis – where a mother passes the infection to her child during pregnancy – has also seen a sharp rise of 32%. This can lead to stillbirths, infant deaths and life-long health problems, leaving many health experts stunned. So why has syphilis seen such an uptick? Experts point to a number of factors, the most prominent of which is the disruption of treatment and prevention of STIs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, people are meeting potential partners online more frequently and may not have access to in-person services to get tested. Furthermore, the introduction of effective treatments for HIV and a lack of education around STIs has led many to forget the risks they are taking.

Tushar has certainly learned the hard way to be more aware, now getting regular check-ups and encouraging his partners to do the same. He believes that it’s important to remind people of the risks of unprotected sex with multiple partners and to encourage regular testing.

Syphilis is a reminder of the need for education and prevention when it comes to STIs. It is essential that people understand the risks of unprotected sex and have access to the right treatment and prevention services. Only then will we be able to curb the spread of this great imitator.

The reasons for the resurgence are complex, but experts point to a number of factors. Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the treatment and prevention of STIs, with many sexual health services closing or operating in a limited capacity.

Worryingly, it has also changed the way people interact, with more people meeting potential partners online and no longer relying on in-person services to get tested. For some, there is also an element of complacency.

The introduction of effective treatments for HIV and the lack of education around STIs has led to many not understanding the risks they are taking. "It's not so much a lack of education, but it's a complacency," says Dr. Kimberly G. Leonard, a professor of infectious diseases at George Washington University.

"People are more likely to engage in risky behaviours because they do not think about the consequences." For Tushar, the experience has been an eye-opener. He now gets regular check-ups and encourages his partners to do the same. 

"A lot of people don't think about the risk of STIs and if you have unprotected sex with multiple partners, you are at risk. You should get tested regularly and make sure you know what you are doing." He said.