https:\/\/www.kcbd.com\/2023\/07\/06\/lubbock-seeing-500-increase-syphilis-cases\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDoctors and health experts across the country are reporting a spike in numbers for a certain sexually transmitted disease, one that could be deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City of Lubbock Health Department reported a 500% increase in cases of syphilis from 2019 to this year and the front-line medication to treat the sexually transmitted infection cannot keep up with demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Director of Public Health Katherine Wells said the city is seeing increasing cases of syphilis in all populations, but a 40% increase among women. She said most STD and STI cases affect young adults, but they are diagnosing people up to 60 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe would see 50, 60, 70, cases a year of syphilis; for last year we saw 600 cases,\u201d Wells said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no definitive answer for why cases have spiked so high, but this increase has created an even bigger problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIncreases in the number of syphilis cases and the number of people being treated, we\u2019re also seeing a shortage in our frontline medication,\u201d Katherine Wells said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pfizer is the sole supplier of penicillin G benzathine, the injection, most efficient to treat syphilis and it reported shortages in both adult and pediatric benzathine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re having to do now\u2026we\u2019re treating with the alternate medication recommended by the CDC which is Doxycycline,\u201d Belle Maldonado, Licensed Vocational Nurse at the Health Department Clinic, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maldonado says receiving treatment as soon as possible is imperative and doxycycline has proven to be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe alternative medication for so long, so many days, and it\u2019s really easy once you start to feel better, you don\u2019t think you need those antibiotics anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the penicillin injection is the only syphilis treatment safe to administer to pregnant women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are continuing to treat pregnant women and their partners so we know they are being treated adequately,\u201d Maldonado said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Syphilis left untreated can damage your internal organs and can even lead to death. It can also create complications for women wanting to become pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese things continue to wreak havoc in your body until you are treated sufficiently for syphilis,\u201d Maldonado said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pfizer estimates benzathine will not be easily accessible until April of 2024, so Maldonado says the best prevention of sexually transmitted infections and diseases is to use a condom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
https:\/\/www.kcbd.com\/2023\/07\/06\/lubbock-seeing-500-increase-syphilis-cases\/ Doctors and health experts across the country are reporting a spike in numbers for a certain sexually transmitted disease, one that could be deadly. The City of Lubbock Health…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":75,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[12],"yoast_head":"\n
Lubbock seeing a 500% increase in syphilis cases - Lubbock Sucks<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n