Epidemiology of Syphilis in Hungary between 1952 and 1996

Abstract

Trends in morbidity from syphilis in Hungary between 1952 and 1996 were analysed. The incidence of syphilis/100,000 inhabitants declined rapidly owing to the public health and therapeutic measures of the early 1950s (1952: total=73.6, early infections=60.2; 1962: total=13.7, early infections=8.7). After a temporary, slight increase until 1973 the number of reported syphilis cases declined continuously between 1978 and 1989 (1989: total=0.9, early infections=0.84). In 1994 a marked increase occurred when compared with 1993 (1993: total=early: 1.4. 1994: total=2.3, early infections=2.2).

Incidence trends were statistically analysed using Chi-square test and linear regression. Chi-square analysis showed that the changes in the incidence of total and early syphilis are significant (p<0.00001) comparing the time intervals 1952–1962 with 1962–1966 and 1975–1979 with 1988–1992. The same trends were found using the linear regression test, except for the time interval of 1960–1973.