Sonoma County is seeing 'alarming' increases in congenital syphilis and is urging pregnant residents to access prenatal care as soon as possible and asking care providers to increase testing for the sexually transmitted disease.
has experienced a steep increase in syphilis among females and in congenital syphilis, or CS, which is when syphilis is passed from a mother to her baby. Baldwin-Santana also said that there are "significant" racial disparities among cases of syphilis in Sonoma County, with significantly higher rates of disease among Black/African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native infants than the statewide rate.
In 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out a study that said that higher rates of syphilis among certain groups is not due to "differences in sexual behavior" but rather a lack of access to sexualPrenatal screening is essential, Baldwin-Santana said, because CS can be prevented with timely testing and treatment. But that doesn't just mean seeing an OB-GYN doctor.
Baldwin-Santana has asked providers in the county to do several things to tackle the problem. First, screen for the syphilis status of all pregnant women that receive care or services in emergency rooms, urgent care clinics, jails,Outreach should also be had with unsheltered people and street medicine organizations.
The syphilis test for women who are expecting should be taken at least three times during pregnancy, with the first test taken as early as possible, such as the first trimester. The second test should be during the third trimester and the third test at delivery. According to data from the California Department of Public Health, in 2018 the state saw a 900 percent rise in babies born with CS compared to 2012.
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