"Concentrated Among Men in Their 20s and 30s"... Syphilis Surveillance Finds 2,800 Infected

First Official Count Since Implementation of Complete Surveillance System
Men Account for 78% of All Cases
"Traditional Epidemiological Pattern" Confirmed

Last year, approximately 2,800 cases of syphilis were reported in South Korea. Notably, more than half of these cases were concentrated among young men.

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According to Yonhap News on August 15, citing the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Integrated Disease Control Information System, a total of 2,790 confirmed cases of syphilis were recorded between January and December last year. The incidence rate was 5.4 cases per 100,000 people.

This is the first official figure since the implementation of the complete surveillance system. Previously classified as a Group 4 infectious disease, syphilis was upgraded to Group 3 last year, shifting from sample surveillance to complete surveillance.

According to the current data, syphilis cases showed the traditional epidemiological pattern, with the majority occurring among men in their 20s and 30s. Of the total cases, 2,177 (78.0%) were men, while 613 (22.0%) were women. The incidence rate for men was 8.5 per 100,000, which is about 3.5 times higher than the rate for women (2.4 per 100,000).

By age group, individuals in their 20s (853 cases) and 30s (783 cases) accounted for 58.6% of all cases. The incidence rate was highest among those in their 20s, at 14.0 per 100,000.

By stage, early latent syphilis was the most common, with 1,220 cases (43.7%). Primary syphilis accounted for 983 cases (35.2%), secondary syphilis for 524 cases (18.8%), tertiary syphilis for 51 cases (1.8%), and congenital syphilis for 12 cases (0.4%).

Monthly trends showed a steady average of about 200 cases, with the highest number in July at 274 cases. Cases acquired abroad totaled 117 (4.2%).

Syphilis is a genital and systemic disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, but vertical transmission and infection via blood are also possible. The disease can remain latent and asymptomatic for long periods; however, if left untreated, it may progress to severe complications such as cardiovascular and neurological damage.

Primary syphilis may resolve naturally within 2 to 6 weeks, but without treatment, the disease can progress to tertiary syphilis, which can cause serious complications such as gummas affecting the skin, bones, and liver. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are essential.