The random use of antibiotic drugs has resulted in a rising number of recessive syphilis cases in south China's Guangdong Province, local health authorities have reported.

The province reported 5,065 recessive syphilis cases in 2005, 38 percent of total syphilis cases, up 66 percent on the previous year, according to the latest issue of the Journal of Skin Illnessand Sexually Transmitted Diseases of Guangzhou City.

There were a total of 13,298 syphilis cases in the province last year, up 23.75 percent on the previous year.

Most recessive syphilis patients were not detected in regular checkups, said Lin Zigang, a doctor in the People's Liberation Army No. 421 Hospital.

Many recessive syphilis patients did not show obvious symptoms but were detected by blood tests when making blood donations or through routine pre-operation checkups, he said.

A key factor in recessive syphilis was taking antibiotic drugs without doctor's supervision.

"If someone infected with syphilis catches a cold, for example, the antibiotic will mask the syphilis symptoms if the person doesn't consult a doctor," said Lin.

The antibiotic does not exterminate the syphilis virus but prompts it to change to a recessive form where it remains in the body.

Taking drugs under the guidance of doctors is therefore crucially important, Doctor Lin said.

He also pointed out that the neglect of pre-marital tests was also a factor in the rising incidence of syphilis.

The number of people undergoing pre-marital health checks had dropped considerably after they became voluntary in October 2003.

A sexually transmitted disease (STD), syphilis is infectious in its early stages and can be transmitted by sexual partners and from mother to baby. Without treatment, the virus develops to a mature stage in two or three years and can attack multiple organs.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)