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. 2015 Feb 5;41(2):30-34.
doi: 10.14745/ccdr.v41i02a03.

Infectious syphilis in Canada: 2003-2012

S Totten  1 , R MacLean  1 , E Payne  1
Affiliations

Infectious syphilis in Canada: 2003-2012

S Totten et al. Can Commun Dis Rep. .

Abstract

Background: In the 1990s, rates of reported cases of infectious syphilis were relatively low and were similar among males and females. In 2001, rates began to increase, particularly among males.

Objective: To identify trends in reported cases of infectious syphilis in Canada from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2012.

Methods: Notifiable disease reports were submitted to the Public Health Agency of Canada by provincial and territorial epidemiological units and data were summarized by age and sex.

Results: Rates of reported cases of infectious syphilis increased by 101.0% between 2003 and 2012, from 2.9 to 5.8 per 100,000. Over this time frame, rates increased among males by 128.3% and decreased among females by 40.9%. In males, rates of infectious syphilis were highest among those aged 25 to 29; in females, rates were highest among those aged 20 to 24.

Conclusion: In Canada, as in many countries, rates of reported infectious syphilis cases in males have markedly increased over the last 10 years.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overall and sex-specific rates of reported infectious syphilis, 2003 to 2012, Canada
Figure 2
Figure 2
Rates of reported infectious syphilis by sex and age group, 2012, Canada
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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