This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on a tragic trend: more than 3,700 cases of congenital syphilis were reported in 2022, nearly ten times the number recorded 10 years ago.
If left untreated, congenital syphilis can lead to stillbirth or infant death. Infants who survive may have severe developmental delays, become blind or deaf. In 2022, the disease caused 51 infant deaths and 231 stillbirths. Congenital syphilis can be prevented, but it requires testing a pregnant woman for syphilis right away. The CDC said nearly 90 percent of the new cases in 2022 could have been prevented with timely testing and treatment. In 40 percent of the cases, there was no evidence that the pregnant woman had received prenatal care.
