Quebec physicians urged to watch for signs of syphilis in pregnant women

MONTREAL – Quebec doctors are asking members to monitor for signs of syphilis in pregnant women, while rates of badually transmitted infections continue to rise.

The Quebec College of Physicians says that badually transmitted infections can have serious long-term consequences for newborns, but that these treatments can be easily avoided with treatment.

Spokesman Jean-Bernard Trudeau said some doctors may forget to monitor the signs of the infection because it was almost eradicated in the late 1990s.

But between 2010 and 2015, the rate of infectious syphilis in Canada increased by almost 86%. And while most cases occur among men, Quebec alone has reported 172 cases among women aged 15 to 49 in 2017.

The province also recorded seven cases of conbad syphilis – or syphilis present at birth – between 2016 and 2017, compared with only five for the previous 15 years.

Syphilis is often asymptomatic but signs may include rash or sores in the mouth, bads or bad area. The order states that anyone concerned about the infection should see a doctor and get tested.