Test for syphilis in people with possible symptoms, says UKHSA, as cases rise

Public health leaders are reminding doctors and their teams to consider testing people for syphilis if they present with symptoms such as ulcers, after a rise in cases in England last year.A total of 9513 cases of infectious syphilis were diagnosed in 2023, a 9.4% increase from 2022, when there were 8693 cases, which followed a rise of 15.2% from 2021, show figures from the UK Health Security Agency.12 There were also an additional 3075 diagnoses of other stages or complications of syphilis, including tertiary neurosyphilis and cardiovascular syphilis.UKHSA said that although the number of diagnoses remained highest among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (6527 new diagnoses in 2023), the largest proportional rise between 2022 and 2023 was in heterosexual people, with a 29% increase (641 to 825) in infectious syphilis diagnoses among heterosexual women and a 17% increase (967 to 1133) in heterosexual men.Although…
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