Epidemiology of syphilis in Bulgaria, 1990-1998

There have been great political, social and economic changes in Bulgaria si nce 1990 with higher incidences of syphilis when compared with the previous ly controlled morbidity of syphilis. There has been a 7-fold increase in 19 98 compared with 1990. The male/female ratio remained the same 1.2:1. A hig her number of cases was reported in cities than in villages and small towns , 80.68% in 1990; 73.4% in 1998. The number of employed patients with syphi lis has decreased during the years - from 75.5% in 1990 to 44% in 1998, wit h a corresponding increase in syphilis in the unemployed. The age group at highest risk is 20-24 years, 28.7% in 1991; 24% in 1998. The least affected group are those older than 55 - the incidence being 6.34% in 1990; 2.6% in 1997 and 4% in 1998. The prevalence of the different stages of early infec tion remained the same. The incidence of congenital syphilis increased from 1 in 1990 and 1991 to 21 in 1996, 29 in 1997 and 35 in 1998.