What state has the most syphilis cases?

Louisiana is the state with the highest combined rate of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia in the U.S.

What state has the highest syphilis rate?

South Dakota outpaced any other state for the highest rate of infectious syphilis at 84 cases per 100,000 people — more than twice as high as the state with the second-highest rate, New Mexico.

What is the #1 STD city in America?

There isn't one single "number 1" STD city, as rankings vary by study and year, but Detroit, MI led recent Innerbody Research studies (2025) for overall STIs in metro areas, while Memphis, TN topped earlier reports for city rates. Other cities consistently high on lists include Jackson, MS; Columbia, SC; and Philadelphia, PA, with rates often tied to specific infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis. 

Where is syphilis most common?

In the developed world, syphilis infections were in decline until the 1980s and 1990s due to widespread use of antibiotics. Since the year 2000, rates of syphilis have been increasing in the US, UK, Australia, and Europe primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM). This is attributed to unsafe sexual practices.

What country has the highest syphilis rate?

As the following chart shows, the number of syphilis cases also climbed between 2015 and 2022. Malta had the highest rate of the countries with available data at 24.4 cases per 100,000 population in 2022. This was followed by Luxembourg (23.4), Spain (16.6), Ireland (16.6), Lichtenstein (15.3) and Portugal (14.8).

Syphilis cases rise to their highest levels since the 1950s

What is the #1 STD in the US?

Of the STDs tracked by the CDC, chlamydia makes up the largest proportion of cases in the US, with over 1.6 million cases (496 cases per 100,000 people) reported to the CDC in 2021.

What do syphilis hands look like?

The characteristic rash of secondary syphilis may appear as rough, red, or reddish brown spots both on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet. However, rashes with a different appearance may occur on other parts of the body, sometimes resembling rashes caused by other diseases.

How do I have syphilis if I haven't cheated?

Skin to skin contact. Certain sexually transmitted diseases such as – HPV, herpes and syphilis may transmit through skin-to-skin contact with someone who has this infection. This may happen when your mouth or genitals touch their anal, mouth or genital area.

What STD does 90% of the population have?

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI in the United States. There are more than 40 different strands of HPV and many do not cause any health problems. In 90% of cases, the body's immune system clears the infection naturally within two years.

What STD is Texas known for?

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Texas and across the U.S. STDs can infect both men and women and are especially common in youth ages 15-24. STD infection often causes no symptoms.

What is the fastest growing STD in the United States?

Primary and secondary syphilis infections have seen the most dramatic increase, with total national rates at their highest since 1993. From 2014–2016, syphilis rates increased by 24.5% among adolescents aged 15–19 years and 25.4% among adolescents aged 20–24 years.

Why is syphilis the worst STD?

In tertiary syphilis, there are gummas (soft, non-cancerous growths), neurological problems, or heart symptoms. Syphilis has been known as "the great imitator", because it may cause symptoms similar to many other diseases. Syphilis is most commonly spread through sexual activity.

What race is more likely to get syphilis?

Surveillance reports have shown that syphilis rates across the US population also show marked disparities by race/ethnicity, with diagnosis rates five times higher among black non-Hispanic men (39.0/100,000) compared to white non-Hispanic men (7.6/100,000) in 2015.

Which U.S. state has the lowest STD rate?

Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine consistently rank as having some of the lowest overall STD infection rates in the U.S., often cited by health studies and CDC data, due to factors like higher income, lower uninsured rates, and less ethnic diversity in the New England region, though rates vary by specific infection like chlamydia or syphilis. 

Does syphilis have a smell?

Yes, syphilis can have a smell, particularly in its later stages or with certain skin manifestations, where lesions can ooze a foul, sometimes fishy, discharge, but early syphilis often has no smell and many infections are asymptomatic. In secondary syphilis, flat, wart-like growths (condylomata lata) in moist areas might produce a discharge, and in tertiary syphilis, severe tissue decay (gummas) can create a strong, foul odor as skin and bone break down. 

How can a person tell if they have syphilis?

To know if you have syphilis, watch for a painless sore (chancre) in early stages, followed by a non-itchy body rash, fever, sore throat, and swollen glands in the secondary stage, but the only definitive way to know is through a blood test or fluid sample from a sore, as symptoms can be subtle or absent, especially in later stages. A healthcare provider uses these tests to confirm the infection and determine its stage, which can range from painless sores to severe organ damage in advanced stages. 

How does syphilis affect the brain?

Syphilis affects the brain by causing inflammation and damage through a condition called neurosyphilis, leading to diverse neurological problems like severe headaches, confusion, memory loss, personality changes, dementia, paralysis, vision/hearing issues, stroke, seizures, and difficulty with coordination (gait), which can manifest weeks, months, or even decades after the initial infection if untreated. 

What STDs can be transmitted through kissing?

Yes, some STDs can be transmitted through deep, open-mouthed kissing, primarily Herpes (HSV-1) and Syphilis, due to direct contact with sores or lesions, and also Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia, which can spread via saliva or mucous membranes, though transmission is generally low risk compared to sexual contact. HPV (causing oral warts) and Epstein-Barr Virus (Mono) also spread via saliva.
 

Which STD is 100% curable?

SYPHILIS IS 100% CURABLE.

What US city has the highest STD rate?

While rankings vary by study and year, recent analyses frequently point to Detroit, MI, Memphis, TN, Jackson, MS, Baltimore, MD, and Philadelphia, PA as U.S. cities with some of the highest sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates, often topping lists based on CDC data for STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Southern cities consistently show higher rates, with issues linked to socioeconomic factors, healthcare access, and racial disparities. 

Which president had syphilis?

While debated, Abraham Lincoln is the U.S. President most frequently cited as having had syphilis, based on accounts from his law partner, William Herndon, who claimed Lincoln confessed to contracting it in his youth, though modern analysis suggests other possibilities like malaria. Other presidents, like Woodrow Wilson, dealt with severe health issues, including strokes, but were generally attributed to other conditions, while some speculate about early STIs in others, but Lincoln remains a prominent example of a president linked to syphilis. 

What STD did Al Capone have?

Al Capone had syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STD) he likely contracted as a teenager while working in a brothel in Chicago, which eventually led to severe physical and mental decline, causing paresis and contributing to his death in 1947.
 

What medicine can cure syphilis fast?

Syphilis is simple to cure when it's found and treated in its early stages. The preferred treatment at all stages is penicillin. This antibiotic medicine can kill the bacteria that causes syphilis.