For the first Time since 2010, the number of Syphilis cases in Germany has not increased further. However, more than 7000 people per year are infected with the disease. The now published data of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for 2018. With 7332 cases, the number of cases was slightly below the previous year’s level (7476).
Syphilis is a bacteria-caused disease that occurs only in humans. It is during Sex, through blood and during pregnancy from mother to child-transferable. Syphilis can be cured by antibiotics. If left untreated, damage to the brain and the blood, threaten the long-term vessels. Most often stuck in Germany are homo – and bisexual men.
The majority of infections per 100,000 inhabitants in a state, there were 32.5 cases, still in Berlin, and lowest in Thuringia (4,3). The national average was 8.8 registered Affected per 100,000 inhabitants, the Epidemiological Bulletin of the RKI. Syphilis is a notifiable disease.
The treatment with PrEP could indicate more cases of Syphilis
It was noticeable, however, that the infection numbers in Berlin, in spite of the peak value decreased by around twelve percent in comparison to 2017. A suspected reason for increased testing and treatment of Syphilis in the context of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP), are stated in the RKI Bulletin. In PrEP, HIV-negative people take a drug to protect against HIV.
PrEP lowers the risk of HIV infection in unprotected Sex, prevents but infection with other sexually transmitted diseases. Guidelines for the prescribing of medicines that is why regular testing for Syphilis. As a result, the number of detected Syphilis cases increase usually stated in the analysis. Later on, you could fall, however, since the dissemination of the pathogen in the population go through more treatments.