Shortly after infection occurs, the body produces syphilis antibodies that are detected with a blood test. A syphilis blood test is accurate, safe, and inexpensive. A low level of antibodies will stay in the blood for months or years after the disease has been successfully treated, and antibodies can be found by subsequent blood tests. Because untreated syphilis in a pregnant woman can infect and possibly kill her developing baby, every pregnant woman should have a blood test for syphilis. In the United States, nearly 38,000 cases of syphilis were detected by health officials in 1998, including 7,000 cases of primary and secondary syphilis and 800 cases of congenital syphilis in newborns.
More cases occur each year than come to the attention of health officials.
These states had rates 2-5 times higher than the national rate. Three hundred twelve counties had syphilis rates greater than the Year 2000 objective of 4 cases per 100,000. In 1998, syphilis occurred primarily in persons aged 20 to 39 and slightly more frequently in males than females. Syphilis rates in females were higher in the 20-24 age group, while male rates were higher in the 30 to 39 age group. Some fundamental societal problems, such as poverty, inadequate access to health care, and lack of education are associated with disproportionately high levels of syphilis in certain populations.