Abstract

VANEGAS-CASTILLO, Nayibe et al. Treatment of gestational syphilis and prevention of congenital syphilis in a public hospital in Bogotá, 2010. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2011, vol.59, n.3, pp.167-189. ISSN 0120-0011.

Background. Syphilis affects pregnant women and becomes transmitted to their foetuses. Incidence has risen in underdeveloped countries and vulnerable populations. Objective. Assessing compliance with Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for treating intra-hospital cases of gestational and congenital syphilis. Materials and methods. This was a retrospective study based on registries and medical records of pregnant women and their babies in a public hospital in Bogotá from 1st January to 31st October 2010. Results. Forty cases of gestational syphilis were identified; 12.5% were admitted for abortions without prior prenatal care, 12.5% during prenatal care (one case ending in abortion), 72.5% during labour and 2.5% during postnatal care (puerperium). Only 45% of the women had social security and 12% were illiterate. 100% of the cases were found during latent stage and 58% of their sexual partners remained untreated. Twenty-five cases of congenital syphilis were identified between 36 and 40 weeks pregnancy. 20% of the women had low birth weight and clinical examination was abnormal in only 4 (16%) of them. There were 2 cases (8.3%) of confirmed neurosyphilis. All infants received treatment for congenital syphilis in line with CDC classification stages 1 and 2, regardless of maternal treatment status. Conclusión. Gestational and congenital syphilis affects vulnerable groups. Pregnant women and their children should be managed integrally, according to their infection stage and previous treatment during pregnancy to orientate clinical management and follow-up of the newborn to cure the disease.

Keywords : congenital syphilis; neurosyphilis; syphilis; latent; penicillin; syphilis (MeSH).

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