Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the dean of population health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center said the rate of syphilis in Forest County is almost three times higher than Hinds County. He said a majority of the cases found are congenital syphilis, which affects a mother and her newborn.
Dobbs said there are a number of factors for this high rate, which could include a lack of insurance or access to prenatal care.
Mississippi has one of the highest syphilis rates in the country, which is why health officials say it’s important to take precautions. Getting tested regularly and receiving prenatal care can help prevent women from spreading the disease to their baby.
If syphilis is not treated, it can cause serious health problems, including neuralgic (brain and nerve) problems, eye problems, and even blindness. In addition, syphilis is linked to an increased risk of transmission of HIV infection.
Children became ill by sharing drinking vessels and bedding holding only small bacterial loads, and as a result their cases were not usually serious. Syphilis, in contrast, generally was transmitted by venereal sores holding a massive inoculation of Treponema pallidum.
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