Abstract: Syphilis is an infection caused by a bacteria type known as Treponema pallidum. Syphilis progresses in stages and can lead to serious complications or death. . It is estimated that over 12 million new cases of syphilis in the world occur each year and a quarter of which occur in Africa .The largest proportion (15–49) years found in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin American. In pregnancy, untreated early syphilis result in stillbirth (25%) and is responsible for 14% of neonatal deaths with an overall peri-natal mortality of about 40%. Syphilis prevalence in pregnant women in Africa ranges from 4% to 15%. In Kenya, the prevalence of syphilis among the general population is about 2%. Screening pregnant women for syphilis provides an important means to monitor population prevalence and identifying pockets of high syphilis prevalence. Engagement in unsafe sexual activity puts one at high-risk. The more sexual partners you have, the more likely you are to get syphilis. Without treatment, syphilis can lead to damage throughout the body. Syphilis also increases the risk of HIV infection and, for women, can cause problems during pregnancy. Treatment can help prevent future damage but can't repair or reverse damage already caused. Broadly, transmission modes include sexual, nonsexual and mother-to-child transmissions. More so syphilis develops in four broad stages viz: primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, latent syphilis and tertiary stage with varying symptoms with each stage. But the stages may overlap, and symptoms don't always occur in the same order. You may be infected with syphilis and not notice any symptoms for years. The prevention strategies include avoiding sex with infected partners, health education, use of protective devices such as condoms and avoiding drugs or substances that could lead to unsafe sex. The recommendations are to carry out screening services, reporting cases within 24 hours, testing and treating cases to avoid re-infection, health education interventions, contact tracing and testing, enhancing maternal syphilis screening and treatment and improving the support to the division of reproductive health services. The Ministry of Health should apply Community Health Strategy through using Community Health Volunteers to mobilize the Kenyan population at household level to go for screening as well as carrying out screening at healthcare facilities during routine visits by the clients seeking medical attention.
Keywords: Complication, Prevention, Treponema pallidum, Risk factors, Treatment, Occurrence.
Title: Review of Occurrence and Control of Syphilis in Kenya
Author: Stanley Aranda
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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