Syphilis among newborns continues to rise. Pregnant moms need treatment, CDC says
It's the latest sign of the country's losing battle against many common sexually transmitted infections: New data show the number of babies born with syphilis has increased tenfold over the last decade in the U.S.
A report released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documents the rise from 2012-2022 and concludes there were many missed opportunities for prevention. It finds more than 3,700 cases of congenital syphilis in 2022 alone, representing about a 30% increase from the year before.
While syphilis can be effectively treated during pregnancy, the consequences can be severe if it's not. It can cause stillbirth, miscarriage, premature birth and infant death.
Babies that do survive can suffer from bone malformations, blindness, deafness,
