Reports are saying that there is currently an outbreak of Ocular syphilis. Yes, that’s ocular syphilis the sexually transmitted infection that can make you go blind. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 12 cases registered so far. The health officials warned that more than 200 people across 20 states were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in their eyes between 2014 and 2016 according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Over the past two years, the CDC is saying that this is suggestive of an outbreak. The major problem right now for most of the cases is found in HIV infected homosexuals men. But there are a small number of cases that have occurred in non-HIV infected heterosexual men and also women. As the infection can result in going blind this has prompted the CDC to issue a stern warning to doctors to look out for the signs with their patients.
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Here are the signs or symptoms that you need to look out for when dealing with a possible infection of syphilis.
- First one blurred vision
- Any sort of vision loss whatsoever.
- A sore throat also a skin rash redness anywhere on the body
- Frequent headaches
According to the CDC ocular syphilis can involve any part of the eye but it typically causes inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.
As mentioned it can blur vision and ultimately lead to vision loss and can even travel up into the brain. A chronic bacterial disease syphilis can be contracted by other means but is typically a sexually transmitted disease. In very rare cases, it can be spread through prolonged kissing as well.
As the more common routes of transmission vaginal anal and oral sex, it comes from the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is notoriously difficult to diagnose since its symptoms are similar to other conditions.
A running nose and sore throat, developed sores the lease can often go ignored, however, rates are rocketing across the United States while
the rate of all sexually transmitted diseases has gone up. The biggest increase was seen in cases of congenital syphilis which went up 27.6% percent between 2015 and 2016.
The rate of primary and secondary syphilis infections went up 17.6% percent since 2015 in the early stages patients can receive an injection of benzathine penicillin G. This will not undo the internal damage but will eliminate the infection that for those with latent syphilis and are unsure how long they had it.
Doctors recommend having three doses of the penicillin injection 7 days apart from each other. If you’re in your twilight years, there’s probably a little less concern because of the fact that you know they’re not gonna have any more children. That message just because you’re here retired and you’re a little older and the woman can’t get pregnant is not a reason to let your guard down.