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An Update on the Global Epidemiology of Syphilis

  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology (A Reingold, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Syphilis continues to cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. While syphilis infection is easily identifiable and treatable, rates of syphilis infection continue to increase among select populations in high-income countries and remain at endemic levels in low- and middle-income countries.

Recent Findings

World Health Organization recommended strategies have led to the dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and HIV in several countries; however, outbreaks among select populations need to be adequately addressed.

Summary

Continued vigilance and investment are needed to address syphilis worldwide. The epidemiology of syphilis differs in high-, and low- and middle-income countries.

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Notes

  1. New Caledonia was included under the France sub-section because it is a special collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr. Maanda Mudau for comments. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the University of California Global Health Institute.

Funding

Time for literature review and manuscript preparation was supported in part by NIH/FIC D43TW009343 (Fogarty International Center of the NIH and the University of California Global Health Institute Training Program), NIH P30MH058107 (The Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services), and NIH/NIAID AI028697 (UCLA Center for AIDS Research). No funding bodies had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. NK is supported by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number D43TW009343 and the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI).

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  1. David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Noah Kojima & Jeffrey D Klausner

  2. Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA

    Jeffrey D Klausner

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Kojima, N., Klausner, J.D. An Update on the Global Epidemiology of Syphilis. Curr Epidemiol Rep 5, 24–38 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-018-0138-z

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