The Demographic Findings of Patients Diagnosed with Syphilis in a Training and Research Hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is an important public health issue concerning the majority of the population. The objective of this study is to contribute to epidemiological data by evaluating the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings and presence of concomitant sexually transmitted diseases in patients diagnosed with syphilis in a training and research hospital in Turkey. METHODS: The data of patients attending the Dermatovenereology Outpatient Clinic of X Hospital between 2003-2011 who were diagnosed with syphilis was evaluated retrospectively. The patients having full data in their files were included in the study. RESULTS: Thirty nine of the 50 patients (78%) included in the study were males and 11 were females (22%); the male/female ratio was 3.5/1. The age range of patients was 17-70 years (38,7+-12,3); 35 of the patients were married and 15 were single. The most common way of transmission for males was from sex workers, while it was from their husbands for females. The reason of attendance to outpatient clinic was syphilitic lesions in 64% of patients and positivity of screening tests applied before blood donation in 22%. %62 of patients had a history of chancre while the most common reason of attendance was lesions of secondary syphilis. Clinical features or seropositivity of a concomitant sexually transmitted disease was present in 13 patients. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Syphilis is a public health issue concerning the majority of the population. The evaluation for concomitant sexually transmitted disease is important for early and effective therapy. Education and seminars on effective protection methods and avoidance of risky sexual intercourse are necessary.

Keywords

• syphilis
• treponema pallidum
• sexually transmitted disease