Seropositivity to syphilis in blood samples from four regions (136 sections) of Ribeirão Preto - SP

Abstract

The serological solicitation for syphilis (VDRL and FTA-Abs) was evaluated, considering the age, sex of patients and the seropositivity frequences according to the Districtal Health Section (DHS) responsible for the medical care. A total of 16,127 samples that came from 4 DHS (136 sections of Ribeirão Preto) of blood, that came from 4 DHS (136 sections of Ribeirão Preto) were analysed throught VDRL and the results were confirmed by FTA-Abs. The percentual of false positive VDRL was equal to 9.0%. By considering the results of FTA-Abs, we concluded that the frequency of positive samples to syphilis was 9.5%. The DHS that had the highest taxes of seropositivity was the Central. It was probably due to the fact that this region reunites a big concentration of sex professionals. It was also observed a big number of false-positive results among the samples from Sumarezinho DHS, what motivated important epidemiological and laboratorial questions. There was a notable increasing of solicitations of serological reactions for syphilis, considering the four-year period 1989-1992. Besides the increasing in the number of diagnosis, the percentual of seropositivity to syphilis reduced considerably from 1989 to 1992. Such reduction may also probably be the result of the multidisciplinary efforts during campaigns of health education.