African American Women of International Influence

Hallie Quinn Brown

(1845-1949) who owned a Maryland plantation, bought his freedom, while her mother was freed by her white grandfather, a plantation owner and Revolutionary War officer.

Matilda SissierettaJoyner Jones

(1868-1933)

The daughter of former slaves, Sissieretta Jones was an internationally-acclaimed singer who was among the greatest sopranos of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was nicknamed “Black Patti” in comparison to the Italian prima donna Adelina Patti.

Ida B Wells

(1862-1931)

Ida B. Wells was a journalist, publisher, and teacher who advocated for the rights of women and African Americans. In 1884, she was forced to move to the train car for African Americans despite buying a first-class ticket. She sued the railroad and won a settlement, but the decision was overturned.

Wilma ClodeanRudolph

(1940-1994)

Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children and battled polio and other ailments as a child. At the age of 12, she regained her ability to walk, started on athletics, and went on to be an Olympic sprinter.

By Gig Conaughton COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

Federal, state, and county health officials are urging pregnant people to get blood tests and treatment if needed to keep them from infecting their unborn child with a dangerous, sometimes deadly, and almost completely preventable disease—syphilis.

“You may not even know that you are infected with syphilis and unknowingly pass it on to your unborn child,” said County Public Health Officer Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H.

Congenital syphilis is syphilis passed from parent to child during pregnancy. It can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight and death shortly after birth. Infected children who survive birth can suffer among other illnesses, deformed bones, severe anemia, enlarged livers or spleens, and brain and nerve problems like blindness or deafness.

Cases have jumped dramatically in recent years. Nationally, rates have increased every year since 2013. Cases in San Diego County have gradually increased in recent years.

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a bacterial disease mainly transmitted from person to person through sexual contact. But syphilis can also be transmitted from infected pregnant persons to unborn children during pregnancy, or to infants during activities like breast-feeding.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state syphilis in early stages can cause ulcer-like sores called chancres that can occur in, on, or around the penis, vagina, anus, rectum, lips or mouth. These sores are often painless and may go unnoticed.

In mid stages it can cause rashes, and other symptoms that mimic other common diseases.

Those can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, headaches, fatigue and muscle aches.

However, syphilis can also be dormant in infected people for years, and can be transmitted to a fetus during any stage of the infection. The risk is particularly high for people who get syphilis while they are pregnant.

Get

Test, Get Treated

The only sure way for pregnant people to tell if they are infected with syphilis is to get a blood test. Public health officials strongly recommend testing for syphilis at least twice during pregnancy—at their very first prenatal visit and early in their third trimester, ideally between 28 and 32 weeks. For more information visit the CDC’s website or go to the American Academy of Pediatrics website: aapac3.org.