An outbreak of a treatable sexually transmitted disease has led to a dramatic increase in unborn baby deaths.
Doctors fear there may be more deaths from congenital syphilis in Queensland, prompting calls for increased testing for sexually transmitted infections to control it.
Syphilis cases are on the rise in Queensland and affecting unborn babies after an outbreak in the state’s north-west, Brisbane’s Mater Mothers’ Hospital said.
Four babies died in 2023 from congenital syphilis, when a baby is infected with the disease in the womb by its mother.
It was the highest annual death toll from congenital syphilis recorded in the state this century.
“We’re likely to see more deaths if something doesn’t change,” said Jill Parkes-Smith, a specialist in obstetric medicine and infectious diseases at the hospital.
‘I’ve already seen more deaths from congenital syphilis than I expected to see when I became an infectious disease physician.’
Three Queensland babies have already died from congenital syphilis in 2024, the state’s latest health data showed.
Queensland has seen a rise in deaths from congenital syphilis and doctors fear more cases are on the way (file image)
Syphilis is transmitted through sexual contact and can be prevented by using birth control methods such as condoms and dental dams.
The disease is detectable and treatable, however cases of infectious syphilis have increased in the last two decades from 3.1 to 26.4 cases per 100,000 people per year.
Dr Parkes-Smith said increasing testing was key to curbing the outbreak.
The disease is detected through a blood test and Dr Parkes-Smith said the fetal deaths recorded last year could have been avoided if they had been detected earlier.
She encouraged health care professionals to increase screening requests for high-risk patients, especially pregnant women.
“Sexually active people should consider getting tested if they have a new sexual partner, haven’t been tested before, have symptoms or have concerns,” Dr. Parkes-Smith said.
Syphilis is easily treated with penicillin, but if left undiagnosed it can cause neurological problems such as hearing loss.
Women are urged to get tested as syphilis can be passed from mother to baby and can lead to stillbirth if left untreated. But if contracted, it is easily treated (file image)
Congenital syphilis can increase the risk of birth defects and stillbirth if left untreated, but is also easily cured with antibiotics.
“People think syphilis is a historical disease and there’s a real stigma attached to it,” Dr Parkes-Smith said.
Case numbers are rising among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queensland residents.
The outbreak began in the northwest, but cases are increasing in the far north, the Brisbane metropolitan area and the central part of the state, the hospital said.
Experts believe the rise in cases is due to a decrease in condom use, barriers to accessing health care in remote areas, the use of dating apps and possibly the number of men who have sex with both sexes.
Syphilis usually has few symptoms, but can present with hard sores on the genitals that may progress to lesions and a non-itchy rash on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
