Congenital Syphilis Surveillance and Newborn Evaluation in a Low-Incidence State

Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling infection often with grave consequences seen in infants. It occurs due to the transmission of the disease from an infected mother to the unborn infant through the placenta. This long forgotten disease continues to affect pregnant women resulting in perinatal morbidity and mortality. The continuing prevalence of this disease reveals the failure of control measures established for its prevention. We put forth a case of symptomatic congenital syphilis presenting with skeletal manifestations at birth, a rare finding in literature. The report stresses upon the importance of implementing the World Health Organization's recommendation that all pregnant women should be screened for syphilis in the first antenatal visit in the first trimester and again in the late pregnancy.

show abstract

“…Improved surveillance data and resources are needed for identification and followup of newborns at risk for congenital syphilis [13]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptomatic Early Congenital Syphilis: A Common but Forgotten Disease

Murali

Nirmala

Rao

2012

Case Reports in Pediatrics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[17][18][19] Recognised risk factors include lack of prenatal care, late entry into prenatal care, failure to repeat syphilis testing early during the third trimester, previous delivery of an infant with congenital syphilis, previous stillbirth, use of injecting drugs, exchange of sex for drugs or money, having an unwanted pregnancy, young age, rural residence, being unmarried, and having no father's name on the birth certificate. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] We found several related risk factors-namely, lack of prenatal care and serological testing for syphilis after 28 weeks' gestation, in our study population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Congenital syphilis in the Russian Federation: magnitude, determinants, and consequences

Tikhonova

2003

Sexually Transmitted Infections

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Reported cases of congenital syphilis in the Russian Federation increased 26-fold from 1991-9. Our objectives were to describe the frequency, risk factors, and consequences of delivering an infant with congenital syphilis among pregnant women with active syphilis. Methods: In a retrospective record review using consecutive sampling of logs at maternity hospitals in five geographic areas, data were abstracted for 850 women with active syphilis during pregnancy who had completed >20 weeks' gestation. Further information was abstracted from records in antenatal clinics, dermatovenereology clinics, and paediatric hospitals. We assessed the frequency of confirmed or probable congenital syphilis, used logistic modelling to identify independent predictors for delivering a baby with congenital syphilis, and calculated the proportion of infants with congenital syphilis who experienced late fetal death (20-27 weeks), stillbirth (>28 weeks), or infant death. Results: A total of 64% (n=544) of 850 pregnant syphilis infected women delivered an infant with confirmed or probable congenital syphilis; 40% of the sample had no prenatal care. Among women with no prenatal care, 77% received either no treatment or inadequate treatment and 86% delivered an infant with congenital syphilis. Important independent and modifiable risk factors for delivery of an infant with congenital syphilis included receiving no prenatal care (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.7 to 4.7) and having the first test for syphilis at >28 weeks' gestation (adjusted OR 4.0, 95% CI 2.6 to 6.0). Fatal outcomes were observed in 26% of infants with congenital syphilis, including late fetal death (7%), stillbirth (16%), or neonatal death (3%). Conclusions: In the Russian Federation, the frequency of congenital syphilis is high, risk factors for congenital syphilis are modifiable, and the consequences of congenital syphilis are severe.

show abstract

“…Improved surveillance data and resources are needed for identification and follow-up of newborns at risk for CS. [11]…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current trends in congenital syphilis

Phiske

2014

Indian J Sex Transm Dis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In many parts of the world particularly sub-Saharan Africa, congenital syphilis is a significant public health problem. Though it is rare in most affluent countries there has been a slight resurgence recently in several European countries. The diagnosis of suspected cases and management of congenital syphilis may be confusing and the potential for severe disability is high when cases are missed. The cornerstone of congenital syphilis control is antenatal screening and treatment of mothers with penicillin and in affluent countries it should be strengthened among those at high risk. In developing countries antenatal care screening needs to be strengthened by implementing point-of-care decentralised screening and treatment, also alternative novel approaches to control congenital syphilis should be looked at and utilized. International health agencies and political parties should take steps urgently to support focused approaches to tackling the problem of continuing congenital syphilis.

show abstract

Congenital Syphilis Surveillance and Newborn Evaluation in a Low-Incidence State

Cited by 18 publications

References 15 publications

Symptomatic Early Congenital Syphilis: A Common but Forgotten Disease

Symptomatic Early Congenital Syphilis: A Common but Forgotten Disease

Congenital syphilis in the Russian Federation: magnitude, determinants, and consequences

Current trends in congenital syphilis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About