Recent trends of syphilis prevalence in normal population in Korea-1986

The 6,097 blood donors in Seoul area, the 1,883 pregnant women delivered at Severance Hospital and the 5,136 physical examinees were evaluated for VDRL reactivity. Also, the FTA-ABS and TPHA tests were performed on those who were VDRL-positive, and the 19S (IgM)-FTA test were done on the subjects who were reactive for the FTA-ABS and TPHA tests. All the subjects were over the age of 20 and the study period was conducted from January of 1986 through December of 1986. The results are summarized as follows: 1. VDRL-positive rates were 0.5% in the blood donors, 0.6% in the pregnant women and 0.8% in the physical examinees. 2. The quantitative test of VDRL resulted in low titer below 1:4 in 96% of VDRL-positive pregnant women and physical examinees. 3. The 19S (IgM)-FTA test was reactive in 3 of 12 treated subjects (25%) and 4 of 10 untreated subjects (40%). From the results it is clear that the prevalence of syphilis is continually decreasing compared to the mid 1970's and the early 1980's.