Epidemiological and clinical features of syphilis in the 21st century: A seven-year observational retrospective study of outpatients

Abstract

Background: Syphilis represents a current and emerging public health problem. The number of newly diagnosed cases of syphilis ranges from 5 to 12 million worldwide each year, albeit with differences in distribution and trend. Methods: In this study we evaluated the trend of syphilis cases in a tertiary university hospital of Southern Italy to determine whether the clinical manifestations and/or risk factors have changed over time in relation to the patient's demographic and behavioural characteristics. Results: In our experience we observed an increase in the number of cases of syphilis especially among young people and few subjects undergo screening after at-risk sexual intercourse and/or upon medical advice. Conclusions: About syphilis new emerging features were observed. There was a need to pay more attention to screening, prevention and information for this pathology.

Keywords

• Syphilis
• Sexually transmitted infection
• Risk factors