Abstract: ObjectiveTo determine the onset trends and epidemiological characteristics of syphilis in Shengsi Islands, providing evidence for the formulation of prevention and treatment strategies. MethodsRetrospective analysis was performed based on the syphilis epidemic information of network direct reporting from 2004 to 2007 using PivotTable in Excel 2003. ResultsThe average annual reported incidence was 73.39/lakh during the past four years. The incidence rates from 2004 to 2007 were 49.15/lakh, 67.76/lakh, 67.20/lakh and 109.97/lakh, respectively, suggesting an obvious increasing trend (I/Isup2/sup = 20.16, IP/I0.001). The 4-year overall incidence rate in urban areas was 1.62 times higher than that of the island with statistical significance (I/Isup2/sup = 13.94, IP/I0.001). The incidence of syphilis was 84.31/lakh in women, which was significantly higher than the rate (62.17/lakh) in men (I/Isup2/sup = 5.39, IP/I0.05). The 20 to 49-year-old group was mostly affected, accounting for 81.43% of the total number of cases. Infected workmen on fishing boats accounted for 37.37% (37/99) of the total male cases. Infected female domestics and the unemployed accounted for 76.81% (106/138) of all female cases. ConclusionDuring the past four years, the incidence of syphilis increased significantly in Shengsi county. Fishing men and domestic women constituted the high-risk population for syphilis control and prevention, and therefore great importance should be attached to the prevention and control strategies.