Students can receive treatment at various locations in Tucson, including Campus Health

The number of reported cases of syphilis in Pima County has increased by 300 percent in the past three years, leading experts to classify the spread as an "epidemic."

"The problem with the epidemic is it is all over the place. There is no specific age group, gender or ethnic group," said Scott A. Davey, the manager of the HIV Intervention Prevention (HIP)/AZ program at the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation.

The groups who are at most risk are gay and bisexual males, women who have sex in exchange for drugs or money and men who have sex with prostitutes.

The epidemic has also disproportionately affected the Hispanic and African American populations, which account for half of the reported cases.

These groups typically have less access to health care and information, said Dr. Michelle McDonald, medical director for the HIV and STD program at the Pima County Health Department.

It could burn through a dorm so fast it is scary. - Scott A. Davey, HIV Intervention Prevention program managerStudents can receive treatment at various locations in Tucson, including Campus Health

"I think it is really socioeconomic to an extent," she said.

Syphilis symptoms are often hard to detect because they are painless, McDonald said.

She suggests that anyone who has had sex with more than one partner in the last six months or has ever had sex without using a condom be tested for syphilis.

The first symptoms of syphilis are small painless sores on the genitals. The disease is spread through contact with these sores during oral, anal or vaginal sex.

Syphilis' second stage includes a rash over the genitals, the palms and soles of the feet and lesions in the mouth, McDonald said.

After two years in this stage, the disease is no longer considered infectious and is called latent syphilis unless it is actively damaging a person's organs.

Syphilis can seriously damage a person's joints, brain and large blood vessels like the aorta if it goes untreated for more than two years. It can also be passed on from a pregnant mother to her baby, McDonald said.

However, once diagnosed, syphilis can be cured easily with antibiotics, she said.

"The biggest thing with syphilis is that it is easy to get but it is also easy to get rid of," Davey said.

It is important to treat syphilis early because people who already have an STD have five times the risk of contracting HIV, he said.

It is also highly contagious. It can be easily contracted through oral sex and in some cases through deep kissing, McDonald said.

"It could burn through a dorm so fast it is scary," Davey said. "It is really scary because it shows how many people are having unprotected sex."

Students can receive STD screenings at the Campus Health Center. A full screening costs $123.35, while the syphilis test alone is $13.10.

The Theresa Lee STD and HIV Clinic also provides screenings and requests a $10 donation. To make an appointment call 624-8272.

The Pima County Health Clinic and Planned Parenthood also give screenings.