Ottawa Public Health is reporting a dramatic rise in syphilis cases over the last 12 months.
Health officials say in that time period, they’ve seen a 76% increase in the number of syphilis cases, all of which have been in males. Over 90% of those cases are among men who are sexually active with men.
Syphilis is transmitted through oral, vaginal or anal sex and through skin-to-skin contact with syphilis sores.
Public Health says condoms are not completely effective in preventing transmission, and because symptoms are often mild, they are often mistaken with something else, so people may have the disease and not know it.
Among the symptoms are rashes including on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, and painless sores.
If symptoms are left untreated, they may resolve in the short term, but officials say the infection is still there and should be treated with antibiotics.
If it’s caught early, the disease is easily cured. Delaying treatment can lead to serious and permanent damage to organs including the brain, heart, liver, bones and eyes.
Public Health recommends screening for those who have a sexual partner diagnosed with the disease, those with multiple sexual partners, especially men who have sex with men, anyone who is sexually active and is showing signs of the diseases, and pregnant women, or women considering pregnancy.
People who need to be screened can undergo a blood test through their own doctor, or through an Ottawa Public Health sexual health clinic.
For more information, contact Ottawa Public Health Information Line’s at 613-580-6744 or the AIDS and Sexual Health Information Line at 1-800-668-2437.
