Louisiana: Killer Amnesia -- Decrease in Awareness of Syphilis

"More young gay men are contracting syphilis, a worrisome sign that health experts believe will be followed by a rise in HIV infections. That's a reasonable concern. Those who contract syphilis obviously aren't protecting themselves during sexual encounters, and that means they can contract HIV, too. In fact, the lesions associated with syphilis make people even more vulnerable to HIV infection. ...

"The surge in syphilis isn't just a local phenomenon. It's happening nationally, and it seems clear that too many young men are oblivious to the tragic lessons learned during the 1980s and 1990s when the AIDS epidemic was raging. Perhaps that's not surprising. In New Orleans, 65 percent of the people diagnosed with syphilis are younger than 24. Thanks to advances in treatment, they may see HIV/AIDS as a manageable condition rather than a fatal disease.

"That's a dangerous belief, though, and it points up the need to educate a new generation about this deadly disease and how to prevent it.

"When HIV first emerged, bigotry and fear of social stigma were complicating factors in dealing with the disease. Now, a different set of attitudes -- complacency and the false sense of invincibility common to young people -- seem to be at work.

"Public health officials should view the syphilis data as a symptom that education and outreach efforts have become less effective and need to be reworked."

Back to other news for May 21, 2004