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The Comeback of Syphilis: Why Is a Disease From the Past Showing Up Again?

Written by Mariam Mohammed
Written by Mariam Mohammed

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that many people assumed was mostly gone, especially with modern medicine and antibiotics like penicillin. But recently, it’s been making a serious comeback—especially in the U.S. Even more alarming is the rise in congenital syphilis, which is when babies are born with the infection after getting it from their mothers during pregnancy. This return is raising major concerns about the gaps in our healthcare system, stigma around sexual health, and unequal access to care.


A Look Back at Syphilis

Syphilis isn’t new. It’s been around for centuries and is caused by a bacteria called Treponema pallidum. It was first recorded in Europe in the late 1400s and became known as the “Great Imitator” because its symptoms often look like other illnesses. Before penicillin was discovered, syphilis caused serious health problems and even death. Once antibiotics and STI testing became more available in the 20th century, syphilis cases dropped fast. But now, the progress we made is starting to fall apart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), syphilis cases in the U.S. went up by 80% between 2018 and 2022. That’s the highest it's been since 1950. In 2022 alone, over 3,700 babies were born with syphilis—a 32% jump from the year before. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) says there are over 7 million new cases each year, especially in places where prenatal care and STI testing aren’t widely available. Congenital syphilis can lead to serious health problems, including miscarriages, stillbirths, and long-term damage to organs and body systems.


Why Is This Happening?

One of the biggest reasons is a lack of funding. Many STI clinics and public health programs have faced major budget cuts. In fact, over 40% of STI programs in the U.S. lost funding between 2012 and 2022. This has made it harder for people—especially in rural or low-income areas—to get tested or treated.

Another major issue is that not everyone has equal access to care. People of color, immigrants, and those without insurance often struggle to get the help they need. A 2022 study in JAMA Pediatrics found that over 60% of babies born with syphilis came from pregnancies where the mother had no or very late prenatal care. This shows how inequality and lack of resources are putting lives at risk.

Stigma is another huge problem. Because syphilis is sexually transmitted, some people are too embarrassed or scared to get tested or ask for help. In some communities, talking about sexual health is still taboo. Plus, the rise of dating apps has made casual hookups more common, and many people don’t test regularly for STIs. The return of syphilis is a wake-up call—it shows what happens when we ignore sexual health, underfund public programs, and allow health inequalities to grow.


What Can We Do?

To fight the rise in syphilis, we need to make STI testing more available and affordable. That means more funding for clinics, mobile testing units, and outreach programs—especially in areas that are usually left out. Every pregnant person should have access to full, early prenatal care, no matter their income or background.

We also need to end the stigma. Sexual health education should be taught in schools and talked about in communities. The more we normalize getting tested and treated, the more lives we can protect.


Sources


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