Dating app to blame for syphilis spike?

The Tippecanoe County Health Department is tracking an increase in the number of syphilis cases in the area.

This year, there have been 12 reports of syphilis in Tippecanoe County compared to less than five reports in each the of the previous four years, the health department said Friday.

Local and state health departments are partnering to "closely monitor this trend, educate the public and health care providers about syphilis, and help facilitate proper testing and treatment of affected individuals," according to a press release from the department.

Jeremy Adler, the county department's health officer, said anecdotal reports suggest those contracting the infection are engaged in risky sexual behavior with multiple partners. Adler said smartphone apps, such as Tinder, that facilitate random sexual encounters could be contributing to the issue. He noted the disease is spread through sexual contact and not through drug use, such as sharing needles.

"Syphilis is often viewed as a disease that happened a long time ago, that was a problem in the old days," Adler said. "But clearly this shows that it still can be a big problem and it's something that we have to really be aware of and educate the public about."

Statewide, Indiana is following the same trend. More than 350 cases of syphilis were reported between Jan. 10 and Oct. 3 of this year, representing a 53 percent increase from last year, according a press release from the Indiana State Department of Health.

"This is an alarming increase in the number of people being diagnosed with a preventable and curable disease,” state health Commissioner Jerome Adams said in the release.

Most cases have occurred in men who have had sexual contact with other men, although some heterosexual cases have been reported, according to the state's information.

Syphilis is a sexually contracted infection and in certain stages can cause symptoms including sores, fever, muscle aches and weight loss. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis or call the county health department's nursing division at 765-423-9221.