Syphilis cases on the rise in Slovakia: A hidden threat

Last year, the number of syphilis cases in Slovakia reached a new peak since tracking of it began 18 years ago, with Bratislava recording the highest incidence of the disease.

In 2021, there were 294 cases reported. Last year, the number rose to 443.

Of all eight Slovak self-governing regions, the most syphilis cases were recorded in the Bratislava Region: 151. Of this number, 127 cases were identified in the capital city itself, the Sme daily wrote.

Contrary to common belief, syphilis often goes unnoticed as it initially presents painless symptoms. The disease, if left untreated, can lead to severe mental health issues and even death.

Misconceptions and rapid transmission

Mária Šimaljaková, head of the Dermatovenereological Clinic at the University Hospital Bratislava, attributes the alarming rise in cases to a lack of awareness. She explains that syphilis does not cause immediate pain or discomfort, leading people to underestimate its existence.

The disease spreads primarily through sexual contact, contaminated objects, and can be passed by an infected mother to her unborn child.

The lack of timely testing and treatment has allowed syphilis to persist, resulting in a 51 percent increase in cases over the past year.

Urbanisation and risk factors

Bratislava, the most populous city in Slovakia, has the highest number of syphilis cases due to its higher population density and greater population mobility. However, it's not just urbanisation that fuels the spread.

Slavomír Urbanček of the Roosevelt Hospital's Dermatovenereological Clinic in Banská Bystrica notes that promiscuity, particularly among men, significantly contributes to the rise. Changing sexual partners without proper precautions amplifies the risk.

The disease, which is often asymptomatic, underscores the need for regular screening even among older age groups. In 2010, the town of Trebišov in eastern Slovakia saw a syphilis epidemic among pensioners.

Syphilis is treated with penicillin injections into the muscle. A person who is allergic to penicillin is given tetracycline.

According Urbanček, local epidemics are among the biggest triggers of the increase in syphilis cases in the Banská Bystrica Region. An epidemic has recently broken out in a Roma community in the Brezno district, he told Sme.

In the absence of of comprehensive awareness campaigns, syphilis continues to be a hidden danger affecting various segments of the population.