Which North Dakota Neighbor Is Fighting A Massive STD Spike?

Minnesota? South Dakota? Montana? Manitoba? A sexually transmitted disease is on the rise in one of these potential partners. Recently and regionally there has been a considerable spike in syphilis cases in a neighboring state that should be shared.  

South Dakota reports a 900% rise in syphilis cases.

In general don't we all have the tendency to lump STDs in the "you were probably risking it" category? Don't mean to speak for you, but it's always the first stupid thing that jumps into my head. Yet I'm thinking a 900% increase in a potentially fatal disease is now a risk for everyone. KELOLAND filed a great report. Really good read.

Of the 56 infectious diseases tracked by the DOH, which include things such as plague, leprosy and cholera, none are seeing a spike on the level of Syphilis, which has climbed 900% in 2022. The only other diseases listed that have charted increases as of February 8, 2022 are salmonellosis (salmonella), which has doubled in 2022, and Gonorrhea, which has seen an 18% spike.

 

Meanwhile, Chlamydia, the other notable STD tracked by the state, has fallen by 10% in 2022. Just because it is trending downward, however, doesn’t mean it isn’t present in our communities.

Let's learn some more about syphilis through the good folks at OutbreakNewsToday

Syphilis is passed during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. The infection starts with a single painless lesion that develops within three or four weeks at the site of entry into the body, and often goes unnoticed. Even without treatment, the lesion will spontaneously heal, but left untreated, syphilis progresses to a non-itchy rash on the trunk of the body, palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Other traits of this stage include fever, headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, and fatigue.

So it's a disease that can affect anyone, anyplace, and at any time. There does seem to be an incredible simplicity in its cure.

Syphilis can be cured with penicillin.

Sorry, "cure" is over-reaching, but if penicillin is administered early...

The recommended treatment at all stages of this disease is the antibiotic penicillin. If you’ve been infected for less than a year, you may need just one injection of penicillin to be cured. But you may need more doses if you’ve had syphilis for more than a year.

There are no over-the-counter medications or home remedies that will cure syphilis -- only antibiotics can do that.

Here's the North Dakota Department of Health syphilis page. I've always been told that the only thing I'm allergic to is penicillin...and these days I'd add "risky behavior" to my allergies.

Feel better y'all!