The brief article “Rising economy spurs syphilis spike in China” appeared in Thursday’s Boston Globe, and addresses the rise of syphilis in both China and the US over the last decade. (http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/05/06/rising_economy_spurs_syphilis_spike_in_china/) AP writer Margie Mason notes that economic growth in China has freed up money for businessmen and laborers to buy sex, and that these men and the prostitutes they pay for are the cause of the disease’s rising morbidity rate. China’s newborns are especially afflicted; the rate of neonatal syphilis has grown by a factor of 8 to 57 out of every 100,000 live births. Put more simply, “Every hour a baby is born in China with syphilis.” Syphilis in adults can possibly cause eventual brain damage and death, but in infants it kills a quarter of newborns and debilitates another quarter.
Though syphilis is easily curable with penicillin, the disease does not always manifest symptoms. Screening in the US is unreliable, and no screening exists in China, so the disease can often pass undetected. Both countries had almost eradicated the disease at some point in their histories, but China’s mid-20th century ban on brothels broke down after it climbed into economic prosperity; the US has also experienced a recent climb.
I found the article to show a stark contrast with the model of disease that I had come to expect while reading Mountains Beyond Mountains. Instead of the poor contracting a disease because they didn’t have enough money for proper medical care, the well-to-do are contracting syphilis because they have enough money to pay for unsafe sex on the side before returning home to give it to their spouses and unborn children. It is disappointing that these two countries, one an established powerhouse and the other the heir apparent, should so fail to control such an easily treated disease that could, perhaps, go the way of polio.
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This is a very shocking article. I would have never thought that a disease such as syphilis would have increased so much in countries that basically are the most developed in the world. However, even though this is shocking it makes total sense. Many people, usually celebrities, the more money they get the more stupid things they do. For example Tiger Woods has a ton of money and a great life but basically wastes it when they have mistresses or something like that. However I'm surprised that people with that much money aren't more careful since usually they have more knowledge. I'm still am just very shocked. I think the saddest part is that the syphilis is passed on to their children. And this I think is what makes diseases never end, people don't think and don't use the knowledge they have learned and do stupid things.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very concerning. It was shocking to see developed countries fighting such a curable and preventable disease. I found it interesting that the article stated the increase of syphilis was due to a growing economy. With a surplus of cash, adult are paying for sex through prostitution, which indicates the syphilis outbreak. In the US, everyone has been taught about safe sex, and I would assume so in China, so it is very concerning that many people are not having safe sex. It is a known fact that prostitutes will most likely have an STD and will spread the disease to others they have sex with. I find it shocking that financially secure adults are having sex with prostitutes knowing the risks involved. It is also very sad that children are contracting syphilis through their mothers. This disease can be fatal, but it is very preventable and it angers me that people are being selfish and ignoring the risks, even though their future children will suffer.
ReplyDeleteI found this article to be shocking and interesting at the same time. I was surprised to see that syphilis was spiking up, especially in well-to-do countries such as America and China. I am so used to hearing about diseases occurring in poorer countries because they do not have the money to afford medications. However, the explanation for why syphilis is growing in richer countries makes sense. Many people in the United States and China have extra money laying around that they can spend on useless things such as unsafe sex. I do not understand why people who have been educated about sex and the risks of having unsafe sex, especially with a prostitute still choose to do it. It is not a safe thing to do for anyone-themselves, their wives (or husbands), or their unborn children. Syphilis could easily be passed onto any of them. I find it very surprising that people do not take the time to really think about what they are about to do and what the consequences of it could mean for not just themselves, but their entire family.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this article was shocking, and sad nonetheless. It was interesting to read about Syphilis as it is a disease that has been infecting people for centuries, and it still is today. The author's connection between Syphilis and the growing economy was intriguing and unexpected, but if people are willing to pay for sex with their extra cash, I can see how this disease is spreading more easily. The most depressing aspect of the article, in my opinion, was how the innocent children and infants are becoming infected with Syphilis. This hits a sensitive nerve because these youngsters have to deal with the consequences of their parents and other's bad behavior.
ReplyDeleteThis disease is not one that people normally think of as affecting the modern world. Syphilis is usually thought of as a disease that was prevalent in 15th and 16th century Europe. It is ironic, therefore, that China, perhaps the most modern and technologically advanced country in the world, is having such difficulty with syhpilis. Similar to HIV infection, it is very upsetting to learn that this is a disease that hurts children due to actions not taken by them.
ReplyDeleteWOW ! was the first thing i thought as i was reading this and then as i continued, it said screening in the US is unreliable!! wtf is that!! how can we count on these be to be able to tell us if something is wrong if they dont have a "reliable" tool that is able to fix this problem ! people could just be affecting people left and right !! jesusmaryandjoseph!! >:o
ReplyDeleteAlong with everyone else, I found this article to be extrememly shocking. It is scary to see how people who have tons of money do dumb things with it and contract diseases. Instead of not having enough money for healthcare or something, they are just using their extra money to go have sex and actually spread the diseases. It is sad to see that newborn babies are getting the disease and that so many newborn babies have syphilis. There is really no reason that this disease should be increasing and spreading this much; that is just crazy. This article was truly unbelievable to read.
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ReplyDeleteThis article really suprized me. Seeing as it is such a easily treated disease. It only takes a shot of penicillin to cure syphilis, a drug that is very easy to get. I think the saddest part is the fact that unborn babies are being infected with it. These are poor little babeies that did not make any bad decisions, such as unsafe sex,to contract the disease. The simply became infected by being born to people with the disease. Seeing as how there is such a rising number of babies being born infected I think they should begin screening for it in newborns. I think that if a simple test at birth could tell whether a baby has it or not would be more than worth it, seeing as how it could save their life.
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