EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ACQUIRED SYPHILIS IN THE WESTERN MACRO-REGION OF THE STATE OF PARANÁ

Abstract

This study presents the epidemiological profile of acquired syphilis in the western macro-region of the state of Paraná between 2018 and 2023. Based on data obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), 14,857 notifications of acquired syphilis were analyzed. The variables analyzed included age, gender, race, and education level. The results indicate that the highest incidence of the disease occurs among young men, aged 20 to 39 years, most of them being white and having completed high school. A significant variation in disease detection rates was observed over the years, with a sharp decline in 2020, possibly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by subsequent increases. The prevalence of the disease among men and individuals with high school education contradicts previous studies that often associate higher incidence with lower educational levels. The study reinforces the need for awareness campaigns aimed at vulnerable groups, as well as the importance of early diagnosis and adequate treatment to prevent serious complications, such as neurosyphilis.