Sociodemographic, clinical and risk characteristics in a group of Cuban patients with early primary syphilis

Authors

Keywords:

Treponema, pallidum, syphilis, risk

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of syphilis has been increasing in recent years. More than 6.3 million new cases are reported annually. In Cuba it constitutes a health problem, and it occurs more frequently in key populations.

Objective: To describe the sociodemographic, clinical and risk characteristics of a group of patients with ulcerated lesions, lasting up to three weeks, with a diagnosis of syphilis.

Method: A documentary review of 33 clinical-epidemiological surveys of patients with suspected syphilis was carried out to compare sociodemographic, clinical and risk variables of patients with and without a diagnosis of syphilis.

Results: It was evident that only 46.3 % of patients with ulcerated lesions who attend the medical service do so during the first three weeks of the lesion's appearance. Of the 33 patients (32 men and one woman), 19 of them had a diagnosis of syphilis. The infection was found exclusively in men in all age groups, but the high specific rate in adults over 55 years of age stands out. Genital ulcers prevail over extragenital ulcers and the main risk variable is sexual practices between men.

Conclusions: These results show the problem of this sexually transmitted disease in the country, and suggest strengthening national strategies for its prevention and control.

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Author Biography

Islay Rodríguez González, Instituto de Medicina Tropical ¨Pedro Kourí¨

Responsable del Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Treponemas y Patógenos Especiales. Dpto. Bacteriología-Micología

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Published

2024-05-12

How to Cite

1.
Rodríguez González B, Rojas Perelló AA, Blanco González O, Rodríguez González I. Sociodemographic, clinical and risk characteristics in a group of Cuban patients with early primary syphilis. Rev. cuba. hig. epidemiol. [Internet]. 2024 May 12 [cited 2025 Jan. 21];61. Available from: https://revepidemiologia.sld.cu/index.php/hie/article/view/1472

Issue

Section

COMUNICACIÓN BREVE