Tucson Health Experts Use Social Media to Combat Surge in Female Syphilis Cases

Amid an uptick in syphilis cases among women, linked to the burgeoning use of online dating apps, Pima County health officials are leveraging social media to promote free STD testing.

Last year, Pima County recorded 108 syphilis cases, with men accounting for 93 of these. Despite this overall decrease from 2015’s numbers, cases reported by women saw a marked increase, tripling from “less than six” to 15.

Azucena Huerta, lead communicable disease investigator for the Pima County Health Department, noted a shift in trend. Traditionally, syphilis cases predominantly affected men who have sex with men. Now, women are increasingly being diagnosed. Among the 15 cases reported in women, nearly 30% involved individuals who used internet dating platforms.

Syphilis is straightforward to diagnose and treat. Early symptoms include sores in or near the mouth and genitals, and a red rash on the palms, feet, upper thighs, or armpits. If left untreated, the disease can result in severe nerve damage and blindness.

The spike in female cases led to a social media campaign initiated last December, featuring sponsored ads on Facebook. Huerta believes these ads have helped maintain stable testing numbers. “We haven’t seen a huge increase in testing, but the level of people coming in remains consistent,” Huerta commented. February saw a slight rise in testing, possibly due to the campaign’s influence.

Confidential testing data indicated that many patients had Facebook profiles, strengthening the notion that online platforms are effective for health outreach. This follows a broader pattern: in 2013, there were 55 syphilis cases, but this surged to 142 in 2014, prompting earlier campaigns, including a “yellow and red” bus stop initiative highlighting the disease’s symptoms.

While syphilis cases are fewer compared to chlamydia and gonorrhea, which saw 5,470 and 890 cases respectively in 2015, the county prioritizes syphilis due to its potential to cause congenital cases and severe complications.

Pima County ranks second in Arizona for syphilis rates, following Maricopa County, as per the Arizona Department of Health Services. Nationally, Arizona was the 17th highest for syphilis rates in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more details on sexually transmitted diseases and testing services in Pima County, visit the county health department’s [website](http://webcms.pima.gov).

Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. Follow her on Twitter: @caitlinschmidt.