Epidemiological characteristics of syphilitic patients in Ningbo city,a hospital-based study

ObjectiveTo investigate epidemiological characteristics of syphilis patients in Ningbo city from 2005 to 2013 and to provide evidences for making syphilis prevention and control strategies.MethodsMedical records of all syphilis patients diagnosed in a general hospital from 2005 through 2013 were extracted from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and analyzed with descriptive epidemiology.ResultsA total of 5 093 syphilis patients were diagnosed in the hospital during the 9 years and most of the patients were latent(82.17%)and first phase(9.66%)syphilis,with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3.Of the patients,13.66% were housekeepers or the unemployed;12.64% were commercial service workers;and 11.84% were with unknown occupation.More than a half(52.46%) of the patients were at the age of 20-59 years.Sero-resistance was observed in 27.86% of the patients,of which 53.3%,28.6%,and 18.1% were latent,secondary,and first phase syphilis,respectively.ConclusionThe incidence of syphilis and the proportion of latent syphilis increase in Ningbo city in recent years and the higher female to male ratio and sero-resistence rate in the patients needs to be concerned.