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  • DSHS HIV/STD Program
    Post Office Box 149347, MC 1873
    Austin, TX 78714

    Phone: 737-255-4300

    Email the HIV/STD Program

    Email HIV, STD, Hepatitis C, and TB data requests to the Program – Use this email to request Texas HIV, STD, Hepatitis C, and TB data and statistics. Do not use this email to request treatment or infection history for individuals, or to request information on programs or services. Do not email personal, identifying health information such as HIV status, date of birth, or Social Security Number.

    For treatment/testing history, please contact your local health department.

    For information on HIV testing and services available to persons living with HIV, please contact your local HIV services organization.

Congenital Syphilis


Exploring and Epidemic Congenital Syphilis in Texas Exploring an Epidemic: Congenital Syphilis in Texas is a podcast series designed to increase awareness and build a shared knowledge in the management and prevention of syphilis and congenital syphilis for the public health workforce and their partner agencies who care for people of reproductive age and their babies. The series focuses on key strategies for providers, clinical administrators, clinic support staff, DIS, and the community to decrease the rising rate of syphilis and congenital syphilis in Texas. It aims to enhance syphilis screening, provide timely syphilis treatment, and work collaboratively to prevent new cases of congenital syphilis.

The podcast is a collaborative effort with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Congenital Syphilis team, PHFU staff, and Denver Prevention Training Center. Listeners can find the podcast on platforms such as Apple, Spotify, and Google podcast by searching, “Exploring an Epidemic: Congenital Syphilis in Texas.”

1 in 750 infants in Texas were born with Congenital Syphilis in 2019

Congenital Syphilis Call to Action – DSHS released a call to action on November 23, 2020 in response to an ongoing increase in congenital syphilis and syphilis cases among women of childbearing age.

What is Congenital Syphilis?

Nationally, the number of combined STD cases continues to break records and Texas has not been immune to the STD epidemic. These rising rates of STDs, especially syphilis, has led to the tragic consequence of rising rates of syphilis in newborns.

Syphilis in newborns is known as Congenital Syphilis (CS). When syphilis is untreated or inadequately treated, it can be passed during pregnancy or at delivery to an unborn child. A syphilis diagnosis during pregnancy increases adverse pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm delivery. CS can also lead to health complications like hydrops fetalis (extreme swelling), hepatosplenomegaly (swelling of the liver and/or spleen), rashes, fever, anemia, failure to thrive, blindness, deafness, or deformities of the face, teeth, and bones, and even perinatal death.

Reporting Congenital Syphilis Provider Resources Program Resources
Data and Surveillance For the Public FIMR

Congenital Syphilis Logic Model and Work Plan (PDF)

Congenital Syphilis Legislative Report (PDF)

Congenital Syphilis

Reporting Congenital Syphilis

Provider Resources

Program Resources

Data and Surveillance

For the Public

FIMR

Exploring an Epidemic podcast


Last updated February 11, 2022