Epidemiology of syphilis in Hungary between 1952 and 1996

Trends in morbidity from syphilis in Hungary between 1952 and 1996 were ana lysed. The incidence of syphilis/100,000 inhabitants declined rapidly owing to the public health and therapeutic measures of the early 1950s (1952: to tal=73.6, early infections=60.2; 1962: total=13.7, early infections=8.7). A fter a temporary, slight increase until 1973 the number of reported syphili s cases declined continuously between 1978 and 1989 (1989: total=0.9, early infections=0.84). Ln 1994 a marked increase occurred when compared with 19 93 (1993: total=early: 1.4. 1994: total=2.3, early infections=2.2). Incidence trends were statistically analysed using Chi-square test and line ar 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 int erval of 1960-1973.