City has highest rate in region for gonorrhoea and syphilis

NOTTINGHAM has the highest rate in the East Midlands for sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and herpes.

Figures released by the Health Protection Agency shows the city's rate of gonorrhoea is more than twice as high as anywhere else in the region.

For every 100,000 people in Nottingham, 119.4 have the disease, compared to 47.2 in Derby and 13.2 in Leicester.

The only area in which Nottingham is not highest in the East Midlands is chlamydia rates among 15 to 24-year-olds.

Ohio sees increase in syphilis cases

Syphilis in Hamilton County is a growing problem that could get out of control.

Dr. Larry Holditch is the Medical Director of the Cincinnati Health Department and says there are two reasons for the outbreak.

"Providers aren't thinking about syphilis. People are going to the doctor with rashes and some of the symptoms of syphilis and aren't getting diagnosed. If you're not diagnosed than you can spread it to others," Holditch said.

Syphilis has made a comeback in China

According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 6, 2010 that on an average over one baby is being born with congenital syphilis in China for a total of 9480 cases in 2008. About 50% of babies conceived by women with syphilis die before they are born. Of those born alive about 50% will die in the first year of life unless adequately treated. The first and only newborn seen by the writer was in the Denver Children’s Hospital. It is a very rare disease in this country at this time.