It was the disease that killed Franz Schubert and Guy de Maupassant. It was thought to have disappeared during the 19th century, but ultimately it is still there: syphilis. According to a recent study by the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) relayed this Friday, February 26, 2016 by our colleagues from Parisian, about 500 new cases are reported each year.
The syphilis – also known as “pox” or “large pox” – is a contagious sexually transmitted infection, caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum which is transmitted in particular during unprotected sex. This disease comes in 4 stages: the first two (characterized by ulcers in the genitals, mouth and / or anus then by fever, redness, pain, migraines …) can be treated with medication.
Forty cases in 2015 in Corrèze
“In France, the increase is constant and gradual”, explains Florence Lot, head of the unit. HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C at InVS. “We have a larger number of cases nationally, that’s for sure. However, the reason why some hospitals have more people presenting with syphilis is probably also due to the fact that the reference treatment, Extencillin, has not been marketed by the Sanofi laboratory since 2014 and therefore no longer available in pharmacy. Patients must now turn to Sigmacillina, manufactured by an Italian laboratory which is only accessible to the hospital. “
Thus, the hospital center of Brive-la-Gaillarde (19) recently reported having diagnosed around 40 people in 2015, compared to an average of two per year in previous years. As a reminder, in 1860, 120,000 people died from syphilis in France.
How to protect yourself against syphilis? The best way is to use the condom every time you have sex. In addition, we can also do regular screenings (simple blood tests, free and painless).
