Cases of syphilis particularly affecting the central nervous system, vision, and hearing are rising in heterosexual men in Chicago observes this new CDC Notes from the Field by Amy Nham, PharmD, Taylor Holly, MPH, PITCH Fellow John Flores, MD, David Kern; and Irina Tabidze, MD.
Syphilis and HIV often occur together in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Neurosyphilis, ocular syphilis, and otic syphilis (NOO syphilis) can happen at any stage of syphilis, with or without HIV infection. From January 1 to October 31, 2023, 40 cases of NOO syphilis were reported in Chicago. Of these, 67.5% were in people who didn’t have HIV, compared to 43.8% in 2019. Out of 33 people with NOO syphilis whose sexual preferences were known, 18 (54.5%) were not MSM, compared with four of the 15 patients (26.7%) in 2019. “Clinicians should consider NOO syphilis even in persons who do not have HIV and who are not MSM,” recommends the report.