Abstract
This study explores the clinical characteristics, associated infections, and management outcomes of syphilis within a specific population over the years 2018 to 2022. With a focus on the frequency, clinical manifestations, and co-infections of syphilis, the research addresses a critical gap in understanding the nuanced dynamics of this sexually transmitted infection and its impact on public health.
The study employs a retrospective analysis of data collected from 2018 to 2022, utilizing three key serological tests (Syphilis AB, RPR/VDRL, and TPHA) to characterize syphilis infections within the population. Clinical manifestations and associated infections, including HIV, HBV, HCV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HPV, are systematically assessed. Treatment rates and re-infection patterns are also analyzed, providing a comprehensive overview of syphilis epidemiology within the studied timeframe.
The frequency of syphilis, particularly indicated by the Syphilis AB test, exhibited a marked increase in 2020, reaching 96%, suggesting a heightened frequency within the population. RPR/VDRL test results demonstrated consistent frequency, emphasizing the persistent presence of active syphilis infections. Clinical manifestations, such as chancre, skin rashes, alopecia syphilitica, and lymphadenopathy, displayed dynamic patterns over the study years. Co-infection rates varied, with fluctuations observed in HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HPV, while HBV and HCV showed infrequent but stable frequency. The management of syphilis cases demonstrated commendable treatment rates, but an increase in re-infection rates in 2021 highlights the need for continued vigilance.
This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of syphilis epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and associated infections within the studied population. The results offer valuable insights into the dynamic nature of syphilis and its co-infections, informing public health initiatives and interventions. The findings contribute to our understanding of the epidemiological landscape and underscore the importance of sustained efforts in both prevention and treatment to curb the transmission of syphilis and its associated infections. The study, however, calls for continued vigilance and research to address the evolving trends and challenges in syphilis management within the specified population.
Author Contributions
Copyright© 2024
Khatoon Hossein Mehdi Poor Nargis, et al.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Competing interests The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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Introduction
Syphilis, an infection that spreads through sexual contact and is mostly attributed to the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum People with syphilis are also more likely to get other illnesses that are transmitted sexually Syphilis infection is a clearly identifiable risk factor, and there have been documented bidirectional associations between acquiring HIV and syphilis The evident reciprocal association of syphilis and HIV carries significant biochemical ramifications Syphilis has been recognized as an indicator of vulnerability for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), in addition to HIV. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is among the most commonly occurring STIs on a global scale Syphilis is acknowledged as an important risk indicator for both Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), in addition to HIV Thus, the key goal of the study is to identify not only the clinical characteristics of syphilis infections in the UAE but also the co-infections that occur in this context. Such information from the UAE is largely missing and is crucial to enhance the treatment parameters and prevent re-infection rates. The present study, thus, evaluates the trends relating to clinical characteristics as well as comorbidities associated with positive syphilis serology.
Results
Based on data from 2018 to 2022, we examined the clinical features of a particular population in this research and classified the results into several manifestations. The three main serological tests used to describe syphilis infections were Syphilis AB, RPR/VDRL, and TPHA. According to the results of the Syphilis AB test, the frequency of syphilis increased significantly throughout the course of the research. It increased gradually from 45% in 2018 to 96% in 2020, contributing to the total 71% frequency. The significant increase seen in 2020 points to a higher frequency of syphilis in the general population, highlighting the need for more intensive preventative efforts and focused therapies. According to the RPR/VDRL test findings, frequency has been steady over time, ranging from 64% in 2018 to 65% in 2022. The population continues to have active syphilis infections, as seen by the cumulative total of 77%. This constancy highlights the need for continuous monitoring and prompt intervention tactics to stop the spread of syphilis. Throughout the course of the research, the TPHA test-which measures the presence of Treponema pallidum antibodies-showed a high frequency, rising to 91% in 2018 and staying above 84% in the following years. The 90% total frequency highlights how common syphilis exposure is among the populace. In order to lessen the effect of syphilis on public health, ongoing efforts in identification and treatment are required due to its high frequency. Additionally, the clinical features of syphilis infection from 2018 to 2022 are shown in We identified unique patterns and frequency in this in-depth analysis of related illnesses and comorbidities in a given population from 2018 to 2022. HIV infection rates fluctuated significantly, reaching a high of 55% in 2018 and then falling to 10% in 2019. Following that, there was a trend of fluctuation, with 4% in 2020, 4% in 2021, and a modest rise to 15% in 2022, for a total of 23 instances (8%). This variation highlights the need for ongoing HIV monitoring and may reflect changes in the demographics or risk factors of the group being studied. Infections with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) were seldom reported; one case was recorded in 2020 and another in 2021, for a total of two cases (1%). Despite the small numbers, the possibility of long-term problems and the need for proper care and preventative measures make the existence of HBV in the community worthy of consideration. The frequency of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections was more stable, with three cases (4%) recorded in 2020 and 2019 and two cases (2%) in 2021, for a total of eight cases (3%). The fact that HCV is still present indicates how crucial it is to continue surveillance and use intervention techniques in order to stop the virus from spreading and lessen its effects. The frequency of chlamydia infections varied throughout the course of the research, with an increase of up to 16% in 2020, a decrease to 2% in 2021 and 19 cases (7%) overall throughout the study period. The increasing trend indicates that focused public health initiatives are required to combat and manage the spread of chlamydia among the populace. The number of cases of gonorrhea fluctuated, reaching a high of 8% in 2018 and then down to 3% in 2022, for a total of nine cases (3%). In order to effectively prevent and treat gonorrhea, it is essential to comprehend the causes causing these variances. Infections with the human papillomavirus (HPV) were infrequent; in 2022, two cases (1%) were documented. Despite the low frequency, it is crucial to keep an eye on HPV developments because of its link to a number of malignancies, which emphasizes the need for immunization and preventative measures. All things considered, the thorough examination of related illnesses and comorbidities in this group offers insightful knowledge of the dynamic character of infectious diseases. These results advance our knowledge of the epidemiological environment and facilitate the development of focused public health programs and interventions aimed at addressing and lessening the effects of these illnesses. Effective disease monitoring and management strategies continue to rely heavily on longitudinal evaluations. Additionally, the handling of syphilis cases in the population under study has shown noteworthy accomplishments, with treatment rates continuously above 86% between 2018 and 2022. The peak, which was attained in 2020 with a 95% treatment rate, is very notable. This is indicative of excellent treatment compliance and a successful medical response to syphilis infections. The continued high treatment rates demonstrate the dedication to providing syphilis patients prompt, all-encompassing care. These positive results imply that the healthcare system has been effective in quickly detecting and treating instances of syphilis in the general population. Re-infection rates were still rather low, but the differences that were seen over the course of the research years need to be carefully considered. Re-infection rates notably had a significant increase in 2021, rising to 8%. This significant increase in re-infections emphasizes how the population's syphilis epidemiology is dynamic. Developing tailored preventive interventions requires an understanding of the variables that lead to re-infection. In order to reduce the likelihood of recurring syphilis episodes, factors including partner notification, behavioral interventions, and patient education may be very important. In order to break the cycle of syphilis transmission, the cumulative re-infection rate of 4% highlights the need for continued monitoring and the necessity of persistent efforts in both prevention and treatment.
Total Number of Cases
11 (4 %)
79 (27 %)
75 (26 %)
105 (36 %)
20 (7 %)
290 (100 %)
Clinical Characteristics n (%)
Chancre
1 (1 %)
1 (0 %)
Skin Rashes
3 (27 %)
13 (16 %)
4 (5 %)
14 (13 %)
1 (5 %)
35 (12 %)
Alopecia syphilitica
3 (4 %)
2 (3 %)
1 (1 %)
6 (2 %)
Lymphadenopathy
2 (3 %)
1 (1 %)
3 (1 %)
HIV
6 (55 %)
8 (10 %)
2 (3 %)
4 (4 %)
3 (15 %)
23 (8 %)
HBV
1 (1 %)
1 (1 %)
2 (1 %)
HCV
3 (4 %)
3 (4 %)
2 (2 %)
8 (3 %)
Chlamydia
5 (6 %)
12 (16 %)
2 (2 %)
19 (7 %)
gonorrhea
6 (8 %)
3 (4 %)
9 (3 %)
HPV
2 (2 %)
2 (1 %)
Syphilis AB
5 (45 %)
30 (38 %)
72 (96 %)
81 (77 %)
18 (90 %)
206 (71 %)
RPR/VDRL
7 (64 %)
64 (81 %)
61 (81 %)
78 (74 %)
13 (65 %)
223 (77 %)
TPHA
10 (91 %)
76 (96 %)
69 (92 %)
88 (84 %)
18 (90 %)
261 (90 %)
On Syphilis treatment
6 (55 %)
72 (91 %)
71 (95 %)
90 (86 %)
18 (90 %)
257 (89 %)
Re-infection
1 (9 %)
1 (1 %)
2 (3 %)
8 (8 %)
1 (5 %)
13 (4 %)
Discussion
The results of this investigation, which covered the years 2018 to 2022, provided insight into the clinical traits and related infections of syphilis in the community under observation. A noteworthy finding of the research is the differentiation of discrete clinical presentations of syphilis, including occasional alopecia syphilitica, varied skin rashes, and rarely lymphadenopathy, in line with past research The trends in the frequency of syphilis as indicated by the Syphilis AB, RPR/VDRL, and TPHA tests over the 5-year study period show an increased frequency with syphilis AB and TPHA tests, and a steady but high frequency of syphilis based on the RPR and VDRL tests. This trend can be explained by the fact that there was a high number of late latent syphilis cases compared to primary syphilis in our study. RPR/VDRL test results consistently show a steady but high frequency of active syphilis infections, which highlights the need for more focused treatments, enhanced preventive measures, and interventions to reduce the spread of syphilis. The continued existence of syphilis in the community mostly as late latent syphilis calls for continuous monitoring prompt intervention measures. Different frequencies of HIV, HBV, HCV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV were found in the population, according to the co-infection study. The rates of co-infection with HIV, HBV, HCV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HPV varied over the course of the study. Despite the low number of HBV cases, their existence highlights the need for proper care and preventative measures The research showed a steady rise in chlamydia infections, underscoring the need for focused public health initiatives to stop the disease's spread The population's handling of syphilis infections showed impressive results, with treatment rates staying high and over 86% from 2018 to 2022. The highest treatment rates in 2020 (95%) show that syphilis infections have been effectively addressed by healthcare. The noted rise in re-infection rates in 2021, however, raises questions and highlights how dynamic the epidemiology of syphilis is in the UAE. Comprehending the elements that lead to reinfection is essential for formulating focused preventive measures, such as alerting partners, implementing behavioral changes, and providing patient education. Public health measures that have been implemented in the UAE include pre-marital screening which tests for HIV, HBV, HCV, and Syphilis amongst other things, in asymptomatic patients who would otherwise not present for testing. Occupational health screening has also been expanded to include screening for the conditions listed above as well. These measures have allowed for the identification of asymptomatic patients so they can be treated and preventive and therapeutic measures can also be taken for their close contacts. Based on our study results, public health measures should include more widespread education on the subject of practicing safe sex and routine screening for STI s. Vaccinations for conditions like HBV and HPV infections should also be encouraged. At risk groups like individuals with HIV or other STI s, Men to Men sex (MSM), Sex workers should also be encouraged to get regular screenings for STI s. Partner check up should also be encouraged where necessary. Ultimately, this research offers a thorough assessment of the clinical presentation, syphilis epidemiology, and related illnesses in the community under investigation. With the use of these data, public health programs and interventions will be better informed about the dynamic nature of syphilis and its co-infections. Our knowledge of the epidemiological environment is enhanced by these results, which also highlight the need for ongoing efforts in treatment and prevention to stop the spread of syphilis and its related illnesses. To address the changing patterns and difficulties in managing syphilis within the targeted demographic, the study does, however, recommend ongoing attention and research.
Conclusion
The results of this research, which covered the years 2018 to 2022, highlight the urgent need for increased public health awareness and focused actions in order to combat the alarming increase in the Frequency of syphilis. The intricate patterns of co-infection and subtle clinical symptoms highlight how constantly changing this infectious environment is, calling for ongoing monitoring and flexible intervention techniques. The impressive rates of treatment demonstrate the efficacy of healthcare interventions, yet the noted rise in re-infection rates in 2021 indicates persistent problems. Together, these observations support ongoing initiatives to increase public awareness, implement preventative measures into place, and educate healthcare professionals and the general public. The study is a call to action, stressing the need for a multimodal strategy to prevent the spread of syphilis and related illnesses, and it promotes further investigation and attention to detail in order to keep up with changing patterns in the treatment of syphilis in the targeted group.