Several weeks
ago I heard Michael Basson ask one of his younger listener to
spell Syphilis. The young man couldn’t, but then he ask
what is Syphilis. I thought to myself I have not seen a case
of Syphilis in more than 10 years so I guess it is possible
that the younger generation would not know about this venereal
disease. Just a few days ago the CDC reported that Syphilis
is on the rise particularly in the urban areas and among Black
men who are on the “down low”. Other risky behaviors
are the use of crystal methamphetamine a risk factor I was not
aware. Be aware that Syphilis can be contact through oral sex;
many folk are not aware of that. Right now the disease is “hot”
in San Francisco, Atlanta, and Baltimore. No reports about South
Carolina yet. Gonorrhea is often a “running partner”
of Syphilis and is on the decline for reason I don’t really
understand. Chlamydia however is the other venereal disease
that is alive and well. It deserves to be talk about alone.
By the way the word venereal disease is no longer used by a
lot of people. We use sexually transmitted disease today. Venereal
comes from the word Venus who was the goddess of love-so we
get venereal disease- disease that got is gotten when one of
the partners is infected and occurs when one is making love.
I am Dr. John BELL CLOSING THE GAP IN HEALTH CARE.
