Infectious diseases constitute “the most frequent pathology in Internal Medicine services”
It is transmitted from person to person through direct contact with different sores.
Infectious diseases constitutethe most frequent pathology in Internal Medicine services“, both in “isolated clinical symptoms” and in “exacerbations of chronic pathologies,” recalled the coordinator of the Infectious Diseases Group of the Spanish Society of Internists (SEMI), Dr. Antonio Ramos.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the “most frequent” health problems with great impact on public health and with “possibility of relevant sequelae.” Syphilis, gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis infection are notifiable diseases whose incidence “has increased in recent years”, as highlighted during the meeting.
But what is happening with syphilis? It is really not known because it is a sneaky infection. The symptoms appear and disappear and sometimes even resemble other ailments, making it a great imitator.
Syphilis is an infection caused by bacteria. Most often, it is transmitted through sexual contact. The disease begins to appear with a sore on the genitals, rectum or mouth, which does not usually cause pain. It is transmitted from person to person through direct contact with these sores. It can also be transmitted to a baby during pregnancy or childbirth, and sometimes also through breastfeeding.
For some years now, different investigations have been carried out in the United States, one very prominent in Chicago, where they have seen cases where vision, hearing and even psychiatric changes are permanently damaged. Different formulas in the diagnosis that make it necessary to focus the investigations on themselves. syphilis is mutating. A concern for researchers is that there is also recurrence in patients of different types of headaches and even spontaneous dizziness.
The preferred treatment for syphilis is an injection of a long-acting form of the antibiotic penicillin, called Bicillin LA.
Infections in young people increase by 37%
Experts have warned of an increase in sexually transmitted infections among young people, with 37% of cases in those under 18 years of age and 17% in whom they had at least one co-infection. Furthermore, they have influenced the «worrying progress» and have pointed out that new diagnoses are detected at an early age.
“Sexually transmitted diseases in young people are increasing, not only in the group of men who have sex with men but also in women and in heterosexual couples,” explained the president of GeSIDA, Rosario Palacios Muñoz.
And, according to a study carried out in nine hospitals in five autonomous communities between 2018 and 2022, almost 4% of diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections are detected in children under 15 years of age; More than 33% are between 15 and 17 years old and almost 63% are adolescents between 18 and 19 years old.
In relation to sex at birth, almost 53% of cases correspond to men; and regarding sexual orientation, 40% were diagnosed in heterosexual adolescents, 20% in gay and lesbian adolescents, and 3% in bisexual adolescents.
