A common sexually transmitted infection has returned to many countries.
The infection can cause serious illness, birth complications, and social harm.
Syphilis rates have risen again in several high-income countries.
Public health agencies report steady increases since the early 2000s (BBC report).
The BBC released a short explainer titled “The STI that’s back and all you need to know”.
The video highlights rising syphilis numbers and growing concerns about resistant gonorrhoea (BBC video).
This story matters to Thai readers.
Thailand faces its own rise in bacterial STIs and mounting maternal-child health risks.
Syphilis can infect adults and unborn babies.
Untreated maternal syphilis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or sick newborns.
Health systems can test and treat syphilis effectively.
Public health action can prevent most congenital cases.
Gonorrhoea causes urethral and genital infections.
Doctors treat gonorrhoea with antibiotics.
Some gonorrhoea strains resist first-line antibiotics.
This resistance reduces treatment options and raises clinical concern.
UK surveillance shows antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases increasing.
The BBC reported small but worrying rises in 2024 and early 2025 (BBC report).
UKHSA figures showed 9,535 early-stage syphilis diagnoses in England in 2024.
The overall syphilis diagnoses rose to 13,030 in 2024 (BBC report).
Gonorrhoea diagnoses fell overall in England in 2024.
Health experts still call this decline fragile and temporary (BBC report).
The BBC quoted a UKHSA scientist urging caution over the gonorrhoea fall.
She said testing and prevention must continue (BBC report).
The BBC named an expert who warned about resistant gonorrhoea.
She said resistance becomes hard to manage once it spreads (BBC report).
The BBC noted travel links between resistant gonorrhoea and the Asia-Pacific.
Several resistant cases in the UK had travel histories linked to that region (BBC report).
Thailand shows concerning trends for syphilis and STIs.
Recent Thai reports indicate rising syphilis case numbers in 2023–2025.
A Thai news outlet reported syphilis cases rose sharply by 2024.
The outlet cited official data showing a large increase from 2022 to 2024 (Nation Thailand).
Academic reviews document syphilis circulation in Thailand.
A 2025 systematic review found syphilis seroprevalence among blood donors and at-risk groups (PubMed review).
A 2024 Thai multi-clinic study recorded HIV and syphilis co-infections.
The study showed STI service disruptions during the pandemic affected testing levels (PMC study).
Congenital syphilis remains a global worry.
WHO data show thousands of preventable congenital syphilis cases worldwide each year (WHO dashboard).
Thailand carries historical experience with congenital syphilis.
Past surveillance reported congenital syphilis cases and pregnancy losses in the country.
Thai families need clear maternal screening.
Antenatal testing and prompt treatment can prevent congenital infection.
Health staff can screen pregnant women early.
Rapid syphilis tests can identify infections at first clinic visits.
Treatment for syphilis in pregnancy remains effective.
Penicillin remains the recommended therapy for maternal and congenital syphilis.
Thailand must ensure penicillin supplies.
Drug shortages can cause treatment delays and poor outcomes.
Clinics should integrate syphilis testing into antenatal care.
Thailand can use existing HIV mother-to-child programmes as models.
Young people form a large share of new STI cases.
Thai data and international reports show increases among adolescents and young adults.
Education campaigns must reach teenagers and young adults.
School health services can deliver age-appropriate prevention messages.
Condom use reduces transmission of syphilis and gonorrhoea.
Public health messages must promote consistent condom use.
Partner notification and treatment reduce reinfection.
Health services should support confidential partner testing and care.
Sexual health clinics must stay accessible and friendly.
Stigma and cost barriers can stop people from seeking care.
Public messaging must avoid moralising language.
Health communication must respect family and cultural values in Thailand.
Buddhist community leaders can help reduce stigma.
Local leaders can support compassion and care for affected people.
Doctors must maintain testing and surveillance.
Accurate data helps public health officials plan responses.
Thailand’s disease surveillance can monitor antibiotic resistance.
Laboratory networks can test gonorrhoea isolates for drug susceptibility.
Clinicians should report treatment failures to authorities.
Early detection of resistance helps guide national treatment guidelines.
Global research shows vaccine development for gonorrhoea.
The NHS announced a targeted gonorrhoea vaccine programme in Northern Ireland in 2025 (BBC vaccine report).
The gonorrhoea vaccine trial offers hope for prevention.
Broad rollout will need evidence of safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness.
Thailand could consider vaccine trials and monitoring.
Regional collaboration could speed research and access.
Public health authorities can learn from other countries.
Thailand can adapt best practices for screening, treatment, and prevention.
Testing remains central to control.
Regular screening can catch infections early when treatment works best.
Rapid tests improve timely diagnosis.
Point-of-care tests can return results during the same clinic visit.
Outreach services can reach underserved groups.
Mobile clinics and outreach can serve sex workers and migrants.
Sexual health education must include STI symptoms.
People should know when to seek testing for sores, rashes, or discharge.
Primary care doctors must know STI treatment protocols.
Clear clinical guidance reduces delays and inappropriate prescriptions.
Antibiotic stewardship matters in STI care.
Doctors must use recommended drugs and dosages to slow resistance.
Laboratories must confirm gonorrhoea resistance patterns.
Molecular and culture methods can detect resistant strains.
Thailand can join regional resistance surveillance networks.
Data sharing can alert neighbours to emerging threats.
Travel health advice should include STI risks.
Clinics can counsel travellers about condom use and local STI prevalence.
Tourists should know STI services exist in Thailand.
Thai clinics can offer confidential testing for visitors.
Workplaces can support sexual health.
Employers can provide health information and referral services.
Universities can offer student sexual health programmes.
Campus health services can deliver prevention and testing.
Clinics should protect privacy and confidentiality.
Trust in services increases uptake of testing and treatment.
Community pharmacies can help with information and referrals.
Pharmacists can advise on symptoms and direct people to clinics.
Civil society groups can support people living with STIs.
Peer support reduces isolation and encourages care.
Religious and community leaders can promote compassion.
Faith-based messages can reduce stigma and encourage treatment.
Policy-makers must fund STI programmes adequately.
Sustained funding supports testing, treatment, and surveillance.
Investment in laboratory capacity strengthens response.
Better labs speed diagnosis and detect resistance.
Thailand’s universal health coverage can include STI care.
Free or low-cost testing reduces financial barriers.
Schools must teach accurate, age-appropriate sexual health.
Comprehensive sex education helps young people make safer choices.
Parents can talk to teenagers about sexual health.
Open family dialogue can reduce risky behaviours.
Health messages should use social media and apps.
Digital outreach can reach younger audiences effectively.
Health campaigns must use clear, non-judgemental language.
Simple messages increase trust and action.
Clinics should offer same-day testing and treatment.
Rapid care reduces loss to follow-up and reinfection.
Surveillance reports must be transparent and timely.
Public data helps communities understand local risks.
Researchers should study behavioural drivers of STI spread.
Evidence can guide targeted interventions for high-risk groups.
Public health must work with sex worker networks.
Peer-led programmes can improve testing and condom use.
Prisons and detention centres need STI services.
Close settings can amplify transmission without care.
Migrant health services must include STI screening.
Mobile and undocumented populations face barriers to care.
Pregnant women must get syphilis tests at first visit.
Repeat testing can catch late infections during pregnancy.
Hospital staff must treat congenital syphilis urgently.
Neonates with infection need prompt antibiotic therapy.
Thai medical schools should strengthen STI training.
Future clinicians need skills in diagnosis, counselling, and treatment.
Local research can evaluate interventions in Thai settings.
Context-specific evidence improves program design and impact.
Thailand can learn from regional success stories.
Neighbouring countries offer models for antenatal screening and surveillance.
The public should not panic about rising numbers.
Most bacterial STIs remain treatable with proper care.
The risk grows if testing and treatment fall.
Service disruptions lead to unchecked transmission.
People can protect themselves and their partners.
Testing, condoms, and early treatment prevent spread.
Health services can control outbreaks with coordinated action.
Surveillance, testing, and prompt treatment reduce community transmission.
Clinicians must keep updated on treatment guidelines.
National agencies will update protocols when resistance patterns change.
Thailand’s leaders must act now to prevent congenital cases.
Antenatal screening and treatment can avert tragic outcomes.
Families can support open discussion about sexual health.
Compassion and education protect children and young people.
Community-based prevention and medical care must link together.
Strong referral pathways improve outcomes for patients.
We must watch resistance trends closely.
Antibiotic resistance threatens our ability to treat gonorrhoea.
Vaccines may offer future protection against gonorrhoea.
For now, prevention, testing, and stewardship remain key.
Actionable next steps for Thai readers.
Get tested if you have symptoms or a new sexual partner.
Pregnant women should request syphilis testing at their first visit.
Ask for repeat testing later in pregnancy if risk persists.
Use condoms with new or casual partners.
Condoms greatly reduce transmission of syphilis and gonorrhoea.
Seek care at public health clinics or hospitals.
Thai public clinics offer testing and treatment under universal coverage.
Notify recent sexual partners if you receive a positive result.
Partner treatment helps prevent reinfection and further spread.
Parents should teach safe behaviours and encourage testing.
Open conversations reduce stigma and protect young people.
Health workers should follow national treatment guidelines.
Report treatment failures and suspected resistance to authorities.
Policy-makers should fund STI surveillance and antenatal screening.
Sustained investment protects mothers, babies, and communities.
Researchers should study local STI drivers and effective interventions.
Evidence from Thailand will guide better policies and programmes.
The BBC video gives a clear warning and useful context.
It calls for testing, prevention, and vigilance (BBC video).
UK reports show the global relevance of this problem.
They demonstrate how travel and resistance can influence local outbreaks (BBC report).
Thailand has tools to control syphilis and resistant gonorrhoea.
Commitment from health services, communities, and policy-makers will make the difference.