A historical approach to syphilis infection in Korea

Dong Hoon Shin,Eunju Lee,Eunkyoung Shin,Jong Ha Hong,Eun Jin Woo,Yi-Suk Kim,Ho Chul Ki,Hye Jin Lee

doi:10.31952/amha.16.2.1

Abstract

From the end of the 15th century, syphilis spread worldwide, posing a serious threat to public health. Venereal syphilis has been a major research topic, not only in clinical medicine but also in paleopathology, especially because it is a disease of questionable origin and of high prevalence until the discovery of antibiotics. Syphilis in history has been studied extensively in Europe and the Americas, though less so in Asia. In this review, based on extant historical documents and available paleopathological data, we pinpoint the introduction and trace the spread of venereal syphilis in Korea to the end of the 19th century. This review provides fundamental information that will be a great help in future researches on pre-20th century syphilis in Korea.

Highlights

Treponemal diseases are caused by the genus Treponema, a spirochete bacterium
Various treponemal diseases, including pinta caused by T. carateum, yaws by T. pallidum subsp. pertenue, and bejel or endemic syphilis by T. pallidum subsp
The extant documentation of Korea, Japan, and China all indicates that syphilis originated from the outside world; obviously the Pre-Columbian hypothesis cannot be applied to East Asia

Summary

From the end of the 15th century, syphilis spread worldwide, posing a serious threat to public health. Venereal syphilis has been a major research topic, in clinical medicine and in paleopathology, especially because it is a disease of questionable origin and of high prevalence until the discovery of antibiotics. In this review, based on extant historical documents and available paleopathological data, we pinpoint the introduction and trace the spread of venereal syphilis in Korea to the end of the 19th century. Lab of Bioanthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Department of Anatomy/Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. ******* Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Fundamental information that will be of great help to future research on pre-20th century syphilis in Korea

Introduction

Findings

Conclusion