Protecting Newborns from Congenital Syphilis
We need to remove the STI stigma and make better use of early diagnostics to eradicate this preventable disease, says Lily Li
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Congenital syphilis cases in the US reached nearly 4,000 in 2024, highlighting a significant public health crisis.
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Most congenital syphilis cases are preventable, often due to missed testing and gaps in prenatal care.
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40% of mothers of congenital syphilis cases did not receive any prenatal care, missing critical screening opportunities.
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Updated guidelines recommend testing all pregnant women for syphilis early in pregnancy and again during the third trimester.
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Improving awareness, access to care, and establishing universal screening for pregnant women are essential strategies.
