Syphilis and gonorrhoea in the Baltic countries

Syphilis has often been a problem of great concern in many countries and not only because if untreated the disease may affect any organ, but it can also be inherited—that is, children are born with congenital syphilis.1–6 After the second world war the highest indices in Latvia were recorded in 1973 (82.6 cases per 100 000 people). With strict preventive measures the situation from 1980 to 1990 was comparatively good—5–10 cases per 100 000 inhabitants but since 1993 a dramatic increase in the incidence of syphilis has been noted again. Syphilis was diagnosed by finding Treponema pallidum or …