title: Medical and Social Aspects of Syphilis in the Balkans from the mid-19th Century to the Interwar.
abstract: The current study presents some aspects of syphilis in the Balkan Peninsula from the 19th century until the Interwar. Ever since the birth of modern Balkan States (Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey and Serbia), urbanization, poverty and the frequent wars have been considered the major factors conducive to the spread of syphilis. The measures against sex work and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were taken in two aspects, one medical and the other legislative. In this period, numerous hospitals for venereal diseases were established in the Balkan countries. In line with the international diagnostic approach and therapeutic standards, laboratory examinations in these Balkan hospitals included spirochete examination, Wassermann reaction, precipitation reaction and cerebrospinal fluid examination. Despite the strict legislation and the adoption of relevant laws against illegal sex work, public health services were unable to curb the spread of syphilis. Medical and social factors such as poverty, citizen's ignorance of STDs, misguided medical perceptions, lack of sanitary control of prostitution and epidemiological studies, are highlighted in this study. These factors were the major causes that helped syphilis spread in the Balkan countries during the 19th and early 20th century. The value of these aspects as a historic paradigm is diachronic. Failure to comply with the laws and the dysfunction of public services during periods of war or socioeconomic crises are both factors facilitating the spread of STDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Greece
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsiamis
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Greece
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vrioni
authors.affiliation: Department of History of Medicine, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Greece
authors.forename: Effie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poulakou-Rebelakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Greece
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gennimata
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgari
authors.forename: Mariana А
authors.initials: MА
authors.lastname: Murdjeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Athens Medical School, University of Athens, Greece
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsakris
mesh_terms: D000993:Antitreponemal Agents / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001153:Arsphenamine / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063368:Balkan Peninsula / Q000453:epidemiology; D001729:Bismuth / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D033161:Government Regulation / Q000266:history; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011477:Sex Work / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014507:Urbanization / Q000266:history*; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D000993:Antitreponemal Agents; D001153:Arsphenamine; D001729:Bismuth