Ocular Syphilis on the Rise in North Carolina — and Elsewhere

Incidence of syphilitic eye manifestations doubled from 2014 to 2015.

The CDC recently reported that the number of syphilis cases in the U.S. increased 17.7% from 2014 to 2015 and that, during those years, clusters of ocular syphilis (OS) were documented in Seattle and San Francisco (NEJM JW Infect Dis Dec 2015 and MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015; 64:1150).

To describe the epidemiology and manifestations of OS, investigators at the North Carolina Division of Public Health in conjunction with the CDC reviewed cases reported in North Carolina in 2014 and 2015.

During this 2-year period, the overall rate of OS in patients with syphilis was 1.5%; the OS rate doubled in the second year (from 21 to 42 cases), while the rate of syphilis increased 35% (from 1799 to 2433 cases). OS occurred at all stages of syphilis, and…

Reviewing Author

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

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Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Stephen G. Baum, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardClinical Infectious Diseases

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsMedical Letter

Ocular Syphilis on the Rise in North Carolina — and Elsewhere

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Reviewing Author