Congenital Syphilis in Texas Section 4 - An Overview of Congenital Syphilis and Syphilis in Women of Childbearing Age in Texas

In 2018, there were 367 CS cases reported in Texas, a 124 percent increase from 2017 (Figure 2). This is a rate of 91.0 CS cases per 100,000 live births. Concurrently, there was an increase in reporting of all stages of syphilis in women of childbearing age. In 2018, there were 1,139 cases of early syphilis (primary, secondary, and early non-primary non-secondary) reported among women of childbearing age in Texas, representing a 42 percent increase from 2017 (Figure 2). There were 2,402 total syphilis cases (primary, secondary, early non-primary non-secondary, and unknown or late duration) among women of childbearing age, which is a 20 percent increase from 2017 (Figure 3).

Figure 2: CS and early syphilis cases* in women of childbearing age in Texas, 2012-2018

*Includes primary, secondary, and early non-primary non-secondary
Data for Figure 2

Figure 3: CS cases by year of birth and total syphilis cases in women of childbearing age in Texas, 2012-2018 

*Includes primary, secondary, early non-primary non-secondary, and unknown or late duration 
Data for Figure 3

Congenital Syphilis and Syphilis in Women of Childbearing Age by Geographic Area

The majority of CS and syphilis cases in women of childbearing age occurred around Texas metropolitan areas. In 2018, the top five Texas jurisdictions reporting the highest number of CS cases accounted for 79 percent of all CS cases (Figure 4). Three jurisdictions accounted for half the cases of women of childbearing age diagnosed with syphilis (Figure 5).

Figure 4: CS cases by STD surveillance site, Texas 2018 
 

Figure 5:  Syphilis cases in women of childbearing age by STD surveillance site, Texas 2018 

Half of Texas’ 254 counties reported cases of syphilis among women of childbearing age (Figure 6), and 50 counties reported at least one case of CS (Figure 7).

Figure 6: Syphilis rates* in women of childbearing age by county, Texas 2018

*Rates are calculated out of women of childbearing age by county. 
Data for Figure 6

Figure 7: Rates of CS in Texas counties, Texas 2018*

*Rate was calculated using the 2015 birth data 
Data for Figure 7

STD surveillance sites with higher proportions of women of childbearing age diagnosed with syphilis also had a higher proportion of CS cases (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Proportion of women of childbearing age with syphilis and proportion of CS cases* by STD surveillance site, Texas 2018 

*Proportions are calculated out of all women of childbearing age 
Data for Figure 8

Congenital Syphilis in Texas

Table of Contents | Executive Summary | About this Report | Understanding Syphilis | An Overview of Congenital Syphilis and Syphilis in Women of Childbearing Age in Texas | Maternal Demographics for Women Delivering Infants with Congenital Syphilis | Barriers to Care | Birth Outcomes Associated with Congenital Syphilis | Congenital Syphilis Cascade