Syphilis, a potentially deadly disease that first shows up as genital sores, has become relatively rare in the United States, with about 8,000 cases reported in 2004.

The seemingly paradoxical findings can be explained by the cyclical nature of syphilis outbreaks and a rise in risky sexual behavior among gay men, researchers said.

The nation's gonorrhea rate fell to 113.5 cases per 100,000 people last year, the lowest level since the government started tracking cases in 1941, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the same time, health official saw increases in syphilis, which is far more rare but has been increasing since 2000. The rate of reported early stage syphilis was 2.7 cases per 100,000 in 2004, up 29 percent since 2000.

The chlamydia rate rose to 319.6 cases per 100,000 in 2004, up about 6 percent from the year before. But researchers said it is not clear whether the rise represents a real increase in the prevalence of the disease or simply reflects better awareness and detection.

All three diseases are caused by sexually transmitted bacteria.

Increase in Risky Sexual Behavior

London researchers reported earlier this year that syphilis tends to peak at eight- to 11-year intervals because human immunity to the disease goes through cycles. Sexual behavior affects the overall number of people infected, but regular ups and downs are typical, the researchers said. Gonorrhea does not follow the same pattern, they said, and rates have been gradually falling since the 1980s.

Dr. Ronald Valdiserri, acting director of the CDC's National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, said that may be part of the explanation for the rebound in syphilis, but a primary reason appears to be an increase in risky sexual behavior.

In 2004, about 64 percent of reported early stage syphilis infections occurred among men who had sex with men, up from 5 percent in 1999, according to the CDC.

"It's very clear that for the last four years, when we've seen an increase it's primarily been in men and predominantly in men who have sex with men," Valdiserri said. "We know that's being fueled by increases in high-risk sexual behavior. We have good data to substantiate that."

CDC officials are hoping stronger efforts to educate gay men and others about syphilis will help arrest the infection trend, he said.

Chlamydia Screening

As for chlamydia, a urine test for men is becoming increasingly common, and health officials have worked to make chlamydia screening routine in yearly gynecological exams for sexually active women.

Chlamydia is the most common of the three diseases. A total of 930,000 cases were reported last year. But health officials believe as many as 2.8 million new cases may actually be occurring each year.

About 330,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported in 2004. The CDC said there may really be as many as 700,000 cases of that disease each year.

Syphilis, a potentially deadly disease that first shows up as genital sores, has become relatively rare in the United States, with about 8,000 cases reported in 2004. Detection is believed to be much better for that disease, and the total number of annual cases is probably no more than 10,000.

Infection rates for all three diseases vary from state to state and city to city. Rates generally are highest in the Southeast -- Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina have the highest gonorrhea rates, while Mississippi, Alaska and Louisiana have the highest rates of chlamydia. Among cities, Detroit and St. Louis lead both categories.

The CDC does not count cases of herpes and human papilllomavirus, which are believed to be among the most common sexually transmitted diseases.