Syphilis rises in Tarrant County
By David Reese
News Editor

North Texas public health officials say the number of syphilis cases in Tarrant County has increased dramatically while the number of sexually transmitted disease cases on the TCU campus has decreased.

According to information provided by the North Texas Public Health department, there have been 262 reported cases of syphilis from Jan. 1 to Oct. 15, 2002.

Brian Barron, surveillance disease intervention specialist with the health department, said the number of cases is divided almost evenly among males and females.

“There have been 132 females and 130 males reported this year,” said Barron.

He said the Tarrant County Public Health Department projects the final number of syphilis cases will be more than 300 this year.

Marilyn Hallam, assistant to the director of the TCU Health Center, said 552 STD tests have been given at the Health Center this year.

She said the individual breakdown of each type of STD test is not available because the Health Center does not keep the results.

Barron said the TCU Health Center has not reported any positive STD tests this year.

He said the university reported three positive STD tests last year. The types of diseases found in the results were not available due to confidentiality, Barron said.

Transmission and symptoms
According to the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention Web site, syphilis is a complex three stage sexually transmitted disease caused by bacterium. The disease is referred to as “the great imitator” because many of the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, according to the Web site.

Barron said the disease can be spread like most other STDs through vaginal, anal and oral sex. He said syphilis sores can also appear on the lips and in the mouth. Although the disease can spread through kissing, Barron said the risk is far less than the other types because of the less contact time involved.

Syphilis cases are also on the rise in the entire state, according to information provided by Ed Weckerly of the Texas Department of Health.

The number of cases have increased in all gender and ethnicity categories, according to the information. During January and September of 2001, syphilis cases were at 379,800 while the same period this year has 441,700 cases or about a 19 percent increase.

Based on information provided by both Barron and Weckerly, syphilis is most common in African Americans.

Barron said African Americans comprise 53 percent of the 262 cases this year in Tarrant County while they are 44 percent of the state’s cases. He said the next highest ethnic group is Hispanics at 23 percent and then Caucasians at 22 percent.

Weckerly said the high numbers of syphilis cases among minorities is hard to target but is largely due to the crack cocaine epidemic in the mid-1980s and into the 1990s. He said African Americans were the main ethnic group involved in the epidemic.

He said all public and private physicians by law must report the number of positive STD tests they administer to the public health department.

“If they don’t report, it is a Class B misdemeanor,” he said.

Barron said although it is a crime not to report, it is very difficult for his agency to find and prove which physicians do not. He said the TCU Health Center is very consistent with its reporting.

Barron said most physicians are getting better at reporting the information which is one of the main reasons there is an increase of cases.

He said the increase in educational awareness has also helped.

“Many are beginning to recognize their own symptoms,” he said.

Education and getting tested
Hallam said the university offers many educational opportunities for students who wish to know more about most health issues including STDs.

In addition to packets available in the Health Center, she said physicians are able to give educational presentations to any organization on campus including residence halls, fraternities and sororities. The subject of the presentation is decided on by the organizers, Hallam said.

Barron said their outreach to the community is lessening due to the lack and change of personnel. He said the number of screening efforts have decreased because there is not enough staff members to cover their areas.

The agency heavily relies on community based organizations like Planned Parenthood to help in the diagnosis and treatment of STDs, he said.

Alice Bello, Southeast Planned Parenthood clinic manager, said her clinic offers many services including STD testing and treatment.

“We can test and treat gonorrhea and chlamydia, but syphilis and HIV are done by the county health department,” she said.

Bello said the clinic is open to all age groups including those as young as 12 years old who are sexually active. She said they encourage parent participation from underage patients but it is not mandatory to receive treatment.

According to the Tarrant County Public Health Department Web site, Adult Health Services is a division of the department that performs testing, counseling, diagnosis and treatment of STDs.

Jane Jensen, HIV/STD program manager, said the testing is available to everyone and the cost of the treatment is based on the patient’s income. She said the minimum is $20 which includes the lab tests, exam and most medication. Jensen said the cost can be as high as $160 but that is usually for those who make a significant amount of money. She said that most students would be in the minimum cost category.

Hallam said the diagnosis and treatment of STDs for men and women are available at the TCU Health Center as well. She said there are more than 5,000 tests that the Health Center can administer.

David Reese