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Deputy Chair of the Gold Coast Primary Health Network, Broadbeach GP Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung, says Australia has seen a concerning increase in syphilis cases in women over the past decade.
“According to a study by the UNSW Kirby Institute, the number of syphilis cases in Australia more than tripled in the past 10 years,” Dr Cheung said.
“In Queensland where there is an ongoing outbreak, the rate of infectious syphilis is even higher, with a nine-fold increase in notifications from 2001 to 2023.
“On the Gold Coast, there were 131 cases detected between January and September last year.
“While most cases are detected in men, there has been a significant increase in the number of women diagnosed with the infection,” she said.
Dr Cheung said the rise in syphilis among women in their child-bearing years is particularly concerning.
“Syphilis can present with minimal to no symptoms and if untreated during pregnancy, infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or congenital syphilis with lifelong harm to the baby.”
But she says the good news is that it is curable.
“Early detection and treatment give us the best chance to control syphilis.
“It is important for GPs and the community to be alert and make testing a part of regular sexual health and pregnancy checks,” she said.
Research reference documents:
Queensland infectious syphilis outbreak
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