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from Medical Issues
American College Of Physicians
Notes Syphilis Rise Among Gay Males
September 13, 2006 -
This month, the American College of Physicians released data from the Centers for Disease Control on the growing rates of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM). According to this report, the rate for syphilis was dropping until 2002 when it began increasing to 2.7 per 100,000 population. The highest increase was among male homosexuals. It rose from 5% in 1999 to 64% in 2004. The rates for women remained the same, except for the southern portion of the U.S., especially among African-Americans.
A July 2006 report on rectal gonorrhea and syphilis rates among MSMs in Boston reviewed 22,000 visits by MSMs from 2003 and 2004. A total of 66% of those MSM tested for an STD were asymptomatic. A total of 7% of the asymptomatic males tested positive for at least one STD, compared with a 20% positivity rate among symptomatic MSM.
According to Donna Helms, a fellow in the Division of STD Prevention at the National Center for HIM, STD, and TB Prevention at the CDC, "Urethral gonorrhea and rectal gonorrhea positivity rates were high." Ten percent of all asymptomatic MSM had urethral gonorrhea and 6% had rectal gonorrhea; 2% had pharyngeal gonorrhea. (Family Practice News, July 15, 2006)
Additional Reading: Medical Issues;
Primary and Secondary Syphilis --- United States, 2003--2004.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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