1 in 20 slum women has syphilis

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) said prevalence of syphilis in the groups vulnerable to HIV/AIDS is very high in Bangladesh, but people in general are ignorant about it.

In a recent study, the ICDDR,B said more than 11 per cent of men and five per cent of women in Dhaka's slum areas were found to have been infected with syphilis and almost none of them sought medical help because the primary lesions are often painless and unseen.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Moreover, the women are reluctant to have their blood, serum or plasma tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

The study, however, said syphilis infections in pregnant women can be prevented effectively if appropriate treatment is given during the first or early second trimester of pregnancy. It also said one per cent of the total population have some sort of syphilis infections.

The report underscored the need for designing strategies for improved syphilis screening. It also suggested using 'treponemal specific-rapid' tests for screening the disease. The paramedics can do it easily, the report said.