In response to the rapid increase in the number of people infected with the sexually transmitted disease syphilis, a talk between a doctor who specializes in sexually transmitted diseases and a YouTuber on the theme of sex education, in an effort to spread correct knowledge about the disease and infection prevention. The event was held in Tokyo.
In the second half of the article, we provide detailed information on the trends in the number of infected people and what experts have pointed out, such as the fact that many people are asymptomatic.
table of contents
Raising awareness through “correct knowledge of syphilis” event
attention
◇The number of infected people has increased rapidly over the past 10 years
attention
◇“Sometimes asymptomatic within 1 year of infection”
◇Can be infected multiple times
◇To protect yourself, your partner, and your children
Open table of contents
table of contents
table of contents
Raising awareness through “correct knowledge of syphilis” event
attention
◇The number of infected people has increased rapidly over the past 10 years
attention
◇“Sometimes asymptomatic within 1 year of infection”
◇Can be infected multiple times
◇To protect yourself, your partner, and your children
Raising awareness through “correct knowledge of syphilis” event
At an event held in Tokyo on the 25th, Ciorine, a midwife and sex education YouTuber, and Professor Hiroshige Mikamo of Aichi Medical University, who is in charge of syphilis control at the Japan Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases, spoke about syphilis. We talked about testing and prevention.
Professor Mikamo introduced that the number of infected people reported nationwide has increased 10 times in men and 23 times in women between 2013 and 2023, and Professor Mikamo said, ``Syphilis is a familiar disease. "I have developed a serious illness. Let's stop thinking that it has nothing to do with us."
He then
explained that when infected with syphilis
, symptoms such as a rash and crusting appear, but they disappear quickly, and that the infection can be repeated many times.
Ciorine also said, ``Testing for sexually transmitted infections is an opportunity to think about your own body, and at the same time it's an expression of love and concern for your partner.'' She also advises people to use condoms and refrain from high-risk sexual activities to prevent infection. I appealed to them to get tested if they did.
A woman in her 40s who was participating with her junior high school daughter said, ``I felt it was important to not be embarrassed and take this as common knowledge.''
The talk event will be streamed online at a later date.
attention
◇The number of infected people has increased rapidly over the past 10 years
The number of people infected with the sexually transmitted disease syphilis has increased rapidly over the past 10 years.
According to a summary by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the number of syphilis infections reported nationwide last year was 14,906 in the year 2023.
This is 1,940 more people than in 2022, marking the third consecutive year since statistics began to be collected using the current method.
Twelve years ago, the number was 875, less than 1,000, but the number has skyrocketed since then.
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, approximately 40% of men have used the sex industry and 40% of women have worked in the sex industry. Many cases of infection are seen in people who have no history of using or working in the workplace.
In addition, the number of infected people is rapidly increasing not only in large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, but also in regional cities.
Professor Takashi Kawana of Nihon University, who is an expert on sexually transmitted diseases, points out, ``Syphilis is not only prevalent in large cities, but is also spreading to regional cities, and syphilis has now become a common disease.'' I am.
attention
◇“Sometimes asymptomatic within 1 year of infection”
During the period known as "early syphilis," which occurs within one year after infection, syphilis often appears as a swelling or lump about 3 mm to 3 cm, centered on the area where the causative bacteria entered.
Afterwards, various symptoms may appear, including a red rash on the hands and feet, fever, and fatigue.
However, experts point out that even if symptoms do occur, the pain is often not felt and the symptoms are often asymptomatic.
Also, even if you have no symptoms, you can still spread the infection for about a year after being infected.
According to Dr. Keiichi Furubayashi, who is an expert on syphilis, there have been cases where women who had no symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases were unexpectedly tested positive for syphilis when they were tested before pregnancy. In many cases, there are no symptoms, so it is important to get tested if you are concerned or wish to become pregnant."
Symptoms of syphilis may disappear without treatment or while taking medicine, but this does not mean that the disease has been cured.
Without treatment, syphilis will continue to progress.
During a period called ``late-stage syphilis,'' which occurs more than a year after infection, inflammation occurs throughout the body, and rubber-like tumors called ``gummas'' may form in the bones and organs, and treatments are not widely available. In those days, people could get large bumps or lose their noses.
As the disease progresses further, symptoms may appear in the brain, heart, and blood vessels, leading to paralysis and symptoms of arteriocele.
Dr. Furubayashi says, ``The bacteria that causes syphilis is a bacterium that grows very slowly, and it is known that medicines act when the bacteria multiply.When treating with oral medicine, the medicine must be taken for a certain period of time. "You have to keep taking the medicine. I hope you don't stop taking the medicine on your own and take it to the end."
◇Can be infected multiple times
There are some infectious diseases that once you are infected, you develop immunity and are no longer infected or become less susceptible to infection, but experts have pointed out that syphilis can be transmitted multiple times. Masu.
Yasuhiko Onoue, director of Private Care Clinic Tokyo, who is well-versed in syphilis, says, ``We often see people, both men and women, who come to the hospital for their second infection.In the past, there were some people who came to the hospital for their fourth infection.''
Just because you've finished treatment doesn't mean you don't have to take precautions against sexually transmitted infections.
◇To protect yourself, your partner, and your children
If you become infected, you not only risk developing serious symptoms, but you also risk infecting your partner.If a pregnant woman becomes infected, there is a possibility that the infection will be transmitted from mother to child, resulting in congenital syphilis. there is.
The number of children reported as having congenital syphilis was 37 last year, the highest number since statistics began to be kept using the current method.
Professor Kawana of Nihon University said, ``As syphilis infection continues to spread, it is thought that some women may not be aware that they are infected, and if they become pregnant without realizing they are infected, there is a fear that congenital syphilis will further increase. If you do, you may be infected even if you have no symptoms.I want both men and women to treat this as their own personal responsibility and get tested."