In 3 years, cases of syphilis in the province have doubled

Syphilis cases in Mendoza have increased almost twice in the last three years. In 2015, 190 people with this badually transmitted disease were detected; in 2016, there were 400 cases and in 2017 they were counted in the province 440. All were declared in the public domain. Therefore, it is estimated that this figure would be higher if one added those presented in the private sector.

This was stated by Andrea Villalba, Head of the Department of Infectiology at Lencinas Hospital. "We are witnessing a reappearance of diseases that we thought disappeared but today they are increasing and we see it every day: we only have syphilis, but others like gonorrhea, human papillomavirus and bad herpes ", says the specialist

. He clarified that syphilis is cured with penicillin and that in the first stage it appears painless. They say of their presence only wounds which disappear a few days later.

"At 3 months, there is a secondary stage that is manifested by a skin reaction, which sometimes goes unnoticed and if it is not diagnosed over the years, it begins to develop cardiovascular and neuronal complications. ", warned the expert.

Therefore, it was advised to perform annual checks by blood test because many times that rosacea that appears in the second stage leads to the dermatologist, who can sometimes give an inadequate diagnosis because of the confusion, for example, with

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Lack of care

"There is a low perception of the risk of not using condoms, especially among young people, and there is much to be done because there is no campaign to publicize the condom. It's a preventable and preventable disease, "said Sergio Saracco, head of the province's toxicology department and rector of the Observatory of Public Health and Consumer Affairs. because of the different badual practices, such as oral bad, many times those who make the diagnosis are dentists because of the appearance of wounds characteristic of the disease.

insisted on regular checks on all those who have an active bad life, and use condoms in one of the badual practices.

At the country level

But not only in our province, cases of this disease, which could be avoided by using condoms, they have increased but in Argentina they have tripled in recent years (from 2011 to 2017), according to a report from the Ministry of Health of the Nation.

While in 2011, 3,875 cases were reported , in 2016 11 709 were reported, the majority among young people between 17 and 30.

The bacterium

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

It is spread by having badl, oral or bad bad without a condom with an infected person, and there is also mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy.

Detection

The diagnosis is made by a blood test, while the pathology is treated with an antibiotic (penicillin).

Symptoms appear 20 days after the entry of the virus into the body and occur in three stages.

Initially, there are small sores on the bad, penis, anus or mouth that do not hurt and disappear without treatment after 15 days

Six months later, a rash can appear on the body. hair loss.

Finely bacteria remain in the blood and over time can lead to dementia, blindness, paralysis and other serious diseases.

Education to avoid contagion

For disease specialists the badual transmission is still essential for the government, the medical community and civil society to reinforce awareness campaigns, l 39; education and dissemination on prevention using condoms and early detection through testing to minimize risk.

] With regard to mother-to-child transmission, which can cause abortions and disabilities in the newborn, experts point out that one of the causes for which the pregnant woman does not receive adequate treatment is the difficulty of applying benzathine penicillin. in primary care centers because of an overestimate of the risk of severe allergies to this antibiotic. "