TRUMBULL COUNTY Number of syphilis cases is up in city

Some of those who may have been exposed haven't been located or contacted.
WARREN -- There's been a sharp increase in the number of reported syphilis cases in Trumbull County this year from previous years, and most of them come from the city.
There have been 16 cases of the disease reported in the county this year with 14 of them from the city. No cases to one case is normal for a year in the county.
"Last year, I think we had one," said Robert Pinti, the city's deputy health commissioner.
The cases have been detected at sexually transmitted disease clinics conducted weekly in the county.
He wouldn't speculate on a possible cause.
The city health department and Nicole Ware-Winford, a disease intervention specialist with the Youngstown Health District, are responsible for investigating positive cases and making referrals for testing and treatment.
The disease intervention specialist, who works in both Trumbull and Mahoning counties, talks to those infected to try to determine others who may have been exposed to the disease and contact them so they may be treated, Pinti said.
Finding those infected
Health officials haven't been able to locate or contact some of those who may have been exposed.
Those infected often don't recognize the symptoms or understand how it's spread. It's spread through sexual contact with an infected person, through broken skin on other parts of the body or by a pregnant woman who is infected passing it to her fetus which may result in miscarriage or birth defects.
Symptoms may occur in three stages. The first involves appearance of a sore on the body part exposed to the infected partner's ulcer such as on the genitals, tongue or lips. Although the sore may disappear in a few weeks even without treatment, the infection remains.
The second stage occurs about six weeks after the first. A rash appears and may be all over the body or in a few areas. It's usually on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands. Other symptoms that may occur include slight fever, sore throat, headaches, appetite loss, patchy hair loss and swollen glands and may last two to six weeks.
Those symptoms also will disappear without treatment while the infection persists.
Third stage
In the third stage, the untreated infection may cause damage to the heart, eyes, brain, bones, joints, nervous system and other body parts. It may last for several yeas and can result in irreversible damage to bodily organs or in death.
The disease may be detected with a blood test and is curable and treatable.
People who believe they may have been exposed need to see a health-care provider for testing and treatment.
Testing and treatment is also available by appointment at the Warren health department, 418 S. Main St. by calling (330) 841-2596 or at the Youngstown health department, 345 Oak Hill Ave., by calling (330) 743-3333. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.