Demographic Characteristics of Syphilis Patients Followed Between 1994 and 2006

摘要

Backgorund and Design: We undertook this retrospective study to analyze demographics of patients with syphilis that had attended to Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology between 1994 and 2006. Material and Method: In this retrospective study, data including age, sex, stage of the disease, clinical finding at the time of presentation, transmission route and source, and serology results of 53 patients with syphilis were recorded. Positive VDRL test and TPHA was essential in the diagnosis of the disease. Results: Fifty-three patients (43 male, 10 female) were evaluated in the study. Male/female ratio was 4.3. Patients’ age ranged between 19-58 (mean, 32.92±8.7). Forty-two (80.6%; 34 male, 8 female) of 53 patients were married. Of 53 patients 50 (94.3%) was Turkish, 3 (5.6%) was foreigner. The source of the transmission was not defined in 26 patients (49.1%) while all of married women defined their husbands as source of the infection. Of 53 patients, 40 (75.47%) were primary syphilis, 7 (12.8%) were secondary syphilis, 6 (11.32%) were latent syphilis. 14 had (++++), 20 had (+++), one had (++) and 18 had (+) VDRL. All patients were positive for TPHA. In 1994, syphilis patients attending to outpatient clinic constituted 0.027% of the total visits of the outpatient clinic, whereas it was 0.004% in 2006.Conclusion: Syphilis is still an epidemiologic problem in our country. Prevalence is higher in some other countries. This disease may mimic almost every disease, therefore it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of disorders affecting oral and genital mucosal surfaces. Our study shows that syphilis have a tendency to decrease in Ankara and patients’ preference regarding the health services have changed during past years, in our country. (Turkderm 2008; 42: 9-12)