Lothians a syphilis 'hot spot' as infections among gay men soar

Published on Thursday 18 June 2009 10:34

A THIRD of the country's cases of syphilis are currently in the Lothians, new figures revealed today.

According to statistics released by Health Protection Scotland there were 79 cases in the area in 2008, reaffirming the Lothians as a hot spot for sexually transmitted diseases.

It is gay men who are now the most at risk. The official data shows that of the 79 cases, only ten were not exchanged between homosexual males.

While the numbers remain relatively small – at least compared to the standards of the 1600s when it was nicknamed "the great pox" – it has led to more concerns from sexual health charities about dropping standards in contraception among the Capital's gay community. Rates of HIV among gay men are already well in excess of the "epidemic" of the 1980s, and rates of more well known STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea are also on the rise.

"Syphilis is often something that's associated with the past," said Dr Ailsa Spindler, the national director in Scotland for sexual health charity the Terrence Higgins Trust.

"However, these figures show that there is still a significant number of people being diagnosed with syphilis and it's primarily affecting gay men in Scotland.

"Untreated syphilis can be very serious and in some cases can even lead to heart disease, blindness and problems with the nervous system. Levels of awareness about the signs and symptoms of syphilis are very low but gay men in particular need to be aware it's still out there."

The disease leaves the sufferer with lesions across their body and while it can be soothed with cream and controlled by antibiotics, it never goes away.

Historically it could be fatal, although with today's medical advances that is unheard of. Worst case scenarios can still lead to blindness and heart and brain trouble.

The news comes as the Scottish Government issued a warning to people to talk openly about their sexual history with their partners.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said Scots should ditch their inhibitions as part of an online campaign not only to cut STDs, but reduce unplanned pregnancies.

She said: "We may not have a reputation for talking about our feelings but there's definitely a case for being more open when it comes to building successful relationships.

"People don't need to wear their heart on their sleeves, but we hope this campaign will encourage people to open up to their partners and talk about what they want from the relationship."

The Scottish Government said it will be the biggest sexual health campaign in Scotland since the "tombstone" HIV ads of the 80s. Ms Robison added: "Knowledge is power and the website launched provides a wealth of help and information, in a lively, interactive and sometimes thought-provoking way."