[Veneral diseases today].

The venereal diseases gonorrhoe and syphilis showed again in GDR an increasing tendency concerning their frequency by the year 1974, after having reached a low point about 1967. Now they occur relatively constantly. This increase observed throughout the world is caused by acceleration, changes in sexual behavior, homosexuality, increased promiscuity, tourism and other factors. Numerous false diagnoses of syphilitic symptoms such as herpes simplex, balanitis, carcinoma of the penis, angina, haemorrhoides, anal fissure, drug eruption and others cause the delay in the diagnostics and false treatments. Penicillin represents the drug of choice nowadays. Strict registration orders, intensification of the interdisciplinary cooperation, strict investigation of the infectious sources and endangered contact persons as well as enlarged health and sexual education are suitable weapons in the fight against the spreading of the venereal diseases.