The High Spread of Syphilis in Indonesia: Over 20,000 Cases Detected in 2022

CNN Indonesia

Thursday, 11 May 2023 18:00 WIB

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Spread syphilis in Indonesia is relatively high. Even in 2022, the number of syphilis cases detected in Indonesia reached 20,783 cases.

Syphilis or known by the people of Indonesia as the lion king disease must be avoided. However, in Indonesia every year the number of cases has actually increased.

The Ministry of Health, through its spokesperson, Mohammad Syahril, said that syphilis cases have increased every year. Even if you look at it from 2018 to 2022 it has experienced a jump of up to 70 percent.

As of 2022, the number of syphilis patients detected in Indonesia has reached 20,783 cases. This figure is a number with a significant increase when compared to 2018 where the number of syphilis cases was only 12,484.

“So patients who are found each year continue to increase, until now it has experienced a jump of up to 70 percent,” said Syahril in a press conference held by the Ministry of Health online, Monday (8/5).

Syphilis is a disease that does not only affect adults. Children, even babies can get diseases caused by bacteria pale treponema This.

So, can the spread of syphilis in Indonesia also affect children and infants?

Syahril said syphilis in infants could occur. Transmission can occur when a mother exposed to syphilis experiences pregnancy.

If syphilis is not treated, the child can be infected. Whether it’s contracted through the placenta while in the womb, during the birth process, or even breastfeeding.

For this reason, it is important to carry out syphilis tests and treatment for those who have tested positive. Besides that, said Syahril, the government has also provided a free syphilis test facility that can be accepted by all levels of society.

“This is what needs to be known, that syphilis tests can be carried out at health facilities, puskesmas and everything is free,” he said.

(tst/pua)