Deadly STIs in Manchester

The rise of syphilis infection was found to have increased from 165 to 175 a diagnosis rate of 2.6 times higher than that in England while a rate of 2.3 times higher than gonorrhea diagnosis among patients in England with the number rising from 834 in 2016 to 1002 in 2017.

Concerns Raised Over Syphilis and Gonorrhea

The rise of syphilis and gonorrhea cases has raised a great concern and the rise being linked to increased casual sex “hookup” apps coinciding with cuts to services. Also the increase has been evident with a 78% margin among the gays, bisexuals and in other men who have sex with other men.

Although syphilis seemed to be a disease of old times, and also eradicated by use of penicillin it has come back due to the risky sex practices which have fueled it back e.g. in the “chemsex”, “slamming parties” and “chillouts”.

A highly drug-resistant strain of gonorrhea has also been identified among the heterosexuals and may lead to fatal complications if left untreated. It was also identified that increase in the STIs has been due to the changes in the sexual behaviors in the population. For example, syphilis due to sex between men with other men. Also technology has made casual sex more available and when people engage in group sex then syphilis may be highly contracted.

This worrying statistics should therefore be a wakeup call to ensure accessibility of high –quality healthcare services to all who need them, especially for screening and treatment. Otherwise, the low budget and financial pressure in this public health facility may lead to limited interventions in such cases thus contributing to the rise. It may also lead to closure of some healthcare facilities and reduction of the working staff and thus worsening the conditions and more so with the existence of the multi-drug resistant strain of gonorrhea.

What Are The Symptoms of Syphilis?

  • Small, painless sores or ulcers around the genitals, anus or mouth
  • Blotchy red rash at palms of hands and soles of feet
  • Small skin growths resembling the genital warts
  • White patches in the mouth
  • Flu-like symptoms-fever, fatigue, joint pains
  • Swollen glands in the neck, groin, armpits
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These symptoms may disappear at early stage of infection, but the patient is till infected

Severe effects of syphilis will be damage to brain and other body parts if left untreated.

Gonorrhea symptoms include:

  • Thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis
  • Pain when urinating
  • Bleeding between periods in women

These symptoms could be identified or not.

There have been rise of syphilis and gonorrhea in this city and beyond including that of Chlamydia. The fatal effects could be infertility, harm to unborn babies or pelvic inflammatory diseases. It is then important to use condoms, go for regular accurate syphilis and gonorrhea test to prevent infection.