In recent years, the incidence of syphilis in Tokyo has increased. This descriptive epidemiological study aimed to elucidate the status of syphilis within the city. Data regarding age, sex, disease stage, and presumed sexual partners of patients with syphilis reported in Tokyo were compiled and analyzed.
A total of 9, patients with syphilis were diagnosed between and A sharp rise was observed in the number of reported cases from to Between and , the number of women in their 20s who developed syphilis rapidly increased by more than 3-fold. Furthermore, the number of pregnant women with syphilis increased the end of Despite a rapid increase in the number of young women with syphilis, the incidence of congenital syphilis has remained stable.
This stability may be attributed to the early detection of syphilis during pregnancy, facilitated by the high rate of antenatal checkups in Tokyo. However, the growing incidence of syphilis among young women could potentially lead to a rise congenital syphilis cases in the future.
Therefore, public health strategies should include educational initiatives targeting high-risk populations and adolescents, along with early and appropriate testing and treatment to prevent the progression of syphilis.
Keywords: congenital syphilis; pregnant woman; re-emerging infectious disease; sexually transmitted infections; surveillance. Abstract In recent years, the incidence of syphilis in Tokyo has increased.
