Health Syphilis cases in Tokyo on the rise

[thomas]

According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), syphilis cases continued their alarming rise at a record-breaking pace in Tokyo, increasing more than 20 per cent from the previous year. In 2022, the total number of cases hit a record high in the capital since 1999, when such statistics were first collected.

There were 1,366 patients with the sexually transmitted disease as of May 17, up 253 from the same period in 2022, the officials announced on May 18 at a meeting of infection experts. [...] Tokyo recently reported its first measles cases in three years. Experts at the meeting said the contagious disease could be severe, particularly if contracted by adults. They warned of more infections due to the increasing number of people visiting Japan with the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Syphilis cases on record-breaking pace again in Tokyo, jump 20% | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Syphilis upward trend continues across Japan after recent record numbers - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Cases of syphilis in Japan reached record highs for two years straight, and the upward trend is continuing this year with no end in sight, ac

mainichi.jp

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Brings back memories of a Navy guy I served with in Fukuoka , Japan. When your 2 years are up , they give you your medical records to take with you to the next duty station. If you caught a sexual disease in Japan , they marked your medical records with a pink tab that stuck out. He set on his bunk proudly showing off over 15 tabs in just 2 years he earned. I was more proud that I had none to show , LOL.

 

[thomas]

The number of congenital syphilis cases in Japan so far this year has reached a record high amid a sudden increase in syphilis infections among adults. The number of new cases of congenital syphilis in Japan was 32 as of 4 October, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported. This broke the record of 23 cases in 2019, the highest annual number since the current record-keeping system began. Syphilis is an infection caused by bacteria that is mainly spread through sexual contact. It can be treated with antibiotics, but without treatment, it can harm the brain or heart. A pregnant woman who has syphilis can pass it to her baby, causing congenital disabilities, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

Syphilis infections cases in Japan have been on the rise in recent years. As of 29 October, more than 12,000 cases were reported among adults this year. This is the fastest rate of increase since comparable data became available in 1999. Kawana Kei, a chief professor at Nihon University's School of Medicine and an expert on syphilis, says infections should be treated before pregnancy to avoid passing them on to newborns. "Even if you get treatment after you notice you are infected with syphilis during pregnancy, there is still a possibility that your baby will develop congenital syphilis," Kawana says. "It's important to treat infections before you become pregnant." Congenital syphilis can cause rashes, and abnormalities in bones shortly after birth. The infected children can develop symptoms such as inflammation of the eyes and hearing loss in a few years, even if they don't have symptoms when they are an infant.

Congenital syphilis cases reach record high in Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

The number of congenital syphilis cases in Japan so far this year has reached a record high amid a sudden increase in syphilis infections among adults.

www3.nhk.or.jp