Many US adults harbor misconceptions about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, despite its potential seriousness and cases rising around the world, the latest University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) survey shows.
APPC fielded the Annenberg Science and Public Health Knowledge survey to a national probability sample of more than 1,500 US adults from April 18 to 24. Respondents were asked about their knowledge of STIs, with particular attention to syphilis and HIV.
The authors noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in January that syphilis cases rose 80% from 2018 to 2022, with more than 200,000 infections in 2022, the most recent year with available data.
Unfamiliarity with syphilis symptoms
Just over half of respondents (54%) knew that syphilis can be cured, most (84%) mistakenly believed that a vaccine to prevent the disease is available, and 45% said they weren’t sure whether there is a vaccine.
Many didn’t know the signs and symptoms of syphilis, including sores (30%), swollen lymph nodes (28%), fever (27%), weight loss (16%), dizziness or lightheadedness (13%), and blurry vision (12%). But high proportions were familiar with ways to protect themselves against it, including abstinence (78%) and using a condom (77%).
