Abstract
A steady decline in the incidence of positive results to the Kahn test is reported in Malawian patients during the period 1968-75. The incidence of early and late syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa dropped considerably over the past few decades. The number of reported cases of early syphilis in certain urban area apparently was high. The downward trend in the incidence of syphilis in Africa is related to the increased and often indiscriminate use of penicillin.