Sept. 26, 2023. Reno/Sparks, Nev. – Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH), formerly the Washoe County Health District, is reporting the 15th case of congenital syphilis in Washoe County so far in 2023. This number already exceeds the previous annual record with more than 3 months left to go in 2023.
Congenital syphilis (CS) is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person with syphilis passes the infection to their baby during pregnancy. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health issues but is treatable.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CS can have major health impacts on babies, including, but not limited to:
- Miscarriage (losing the baby during pregnancy)
- Stillbirth (a baby born dead)
- Prematurity (a baby born early)
- Low birth weight
- Death shortly after birth
- Developmental delays
In addition, CS can cause babies to have deformed bones, anemia, enlarged liver/spleen, jaundice and brain/nerve problems, according to the CDC. More information about congenital syphilis can be found here. Visit our NNPH clinical services webpage to learn about services such as STI and HIV testing and treatment, birth control counseling, free condoms and more.
The 15 cases reported in 2023 breaks the record of 13 cases reported in 2022 in Washoe County. For perspective, the total number of CS cases from 2012-18 was 14.
“It’s absolutely tragic that this preventable disease is impacting children in Washoe County. Any congenital syphilis case is considered a sentinel health event, a failure of the healthcare system,” said Kevin Dick, District Health Officer for NNPH. “These children face an uncertain future with possible life-altering health issues so it’s important that people who are pregnant get tested during the first and third trimesters, at any touchpoint with the healthcare system. Syphilis is a disease that someone can have without knowing it.”
The rise in CS cases locally is a national trend as well. The CDC reported that CS cases have more than tripled in recent years, with more than 2,000 CS cases reported nationwide in 2021.
Syphilis is curable with antibiotics. You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. To learn more about the signs and symptoms of syphilis, see this webpage.
Please note the Washoe County Health District changed its name to Northern Nevada Public Health on Aug. 31, 2023. More information is here.
Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making District Board of Health. NNPH consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here