Objective: This narrative review examines trends in primary and secondary syphilis among adults aged 65 years and older in Texas, comparing state level patterns with national epidemiologic data.
Methods: Surveillance data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP) AtlasPlus platform and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report.
Results: National cases of primary and secondary syphilis among adults aged ≥65 years increased from approximately 123 in 2012 to 1,021 in 2023, representing an over eightfold rise. In Texas, cases increased from 13 in 2012 to 59 in 2023, reflecting a more than fourfold increase. In 2023, most cases occurred in male patients (947/1,021). Despite this rise, syphilis in older adults remains underrecognized, and cutaneous manifestations may be misattributed to age-related dermatoses or medication reactions.
Methods: Surveillance data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP) AtlasPlus platform and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report.
Results: National cases of primary and secondary syphilis among adults aged ≥65 years increased from approximately 123 in 2012 to 1,021 in 2023, representing an over eightfold rise. In Texas, cases increased from 13 in 2012 to 59 in 2023, reflecting a more than fourfold increase. In 2023, most cases occurred in male patients (947/1,021). Despite this rise, syphilis in older adults remains underrecognized, and cutaneous manifestations may be misattributed to age-related dermatoses or medication reactions.