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Knox County Health Department

News Release

Oct. 27, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ranee Randby,
Knox County Health Department
215-5534 or 388-6186

Syphilis Cases Increasing in Knox County

Cases of syphilis, a serious sexually transmitted disease, are increasing in Knox County. Knox County Health Department is taking steps to inform the public about the risk and remind them that free and confidential testing is always available at the health department. The phone number for more information is 215-5370.

“There is a very specific population who is most at risk,” said Dr. Martha Buchanan, Knox County Public Health Officer. “If you or your partner have ever paid for sex, traded anything for sex, or had sex with someone you did not know, you may be at risk for syphilis, which, if left untreated, can lead to permanent complications like dementia.”

Syphilis is a “skin-to-skin” contact disease which can become serious or fatal if not treated. Syphilis is curable if you get treatment. Prostitutes, persons who have sex for drugs or money and their sexual partners are most at-risk for getting the disease. To help prevent the spread of syphilis, Knox County Health Department offers FREE and CONFIDENTIAL syphilis testing to anyone who may be at risk. Knox County Health Department would like to share these important facts about syphilis:

Syphilis is spread by sex: anal, vaginal and oral.
Many people do not notice syphilis symptoms or know that they have syphilis. The initial symptom may be a sore caused that is painless, but very serious.
If the sore is inside the body (rectum, vagina or mouth) you may not notice it.
Syphilis makes it much easier to get and give HIV. If you have syphilis, you are two to five times more likely to get HIV.
Syphilis can be passed during pregnancy from mother to child in the uterus through the placenta.
Untreated syphilis can cause serious or fatal damage to your brain and heart, can paralyze you and can seriously damage your bones, nerves, liver, blood vessels and joints. It is a deadly disease.

The Knox County Health Department (KCHD) is committed to promoting public health policies and practices that safeguard and improve quality of life for all residents. KCHD offers an array of resources, including medical and dental services, family planning, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, air quality management, environmental services, food preparation oversight in public places, special nutritional programs for women with children and much more. For more information on the Knox County Health Department, visit www.knoxcounty.org/health.