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Congenital syphilis--United States, 1998
Insights
Congenital syphilis (CS) rates significantly decreased by 78.2% between 1992 and 1998. However, CS disproportionately affected the southeastern US and minority populations, highlighting persistent health disparities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Congenital syphilis (CS) is a serious infection transmitted from mother to fetus.
- Untreated CS can lead to severe fetal complications, including handicap or death.
- CS rates historically follow trends in adult syphilis rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the epidemiology of congenital syphilis (CS) in the United States.
- To assess changes in CS rates following a national decline in syphilis during 1992-1998.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1998 congenital syphilis (CS) notifiable disease data.
- Assessment of CS rate changes from 1992 to 1998.
Main Results:
- The national CS rate declined by 78.2% between 1992 and 1998.
- Congenital syphilis (CS) rates remained disproportionately high in the southeastern United States.
- Minority racial/ethnic populations experienced higher rates of congenital syphilis (CS).
Conclusions:
- Public health interventions have led to a significant reduction in congenital syphilis (CS) rates.
- Persistent disparities in CS rates underscore the need for targeted interventions in specific regions and populations.
Abstract:
Congenital syphilis (CS) occurs when the spirochete Treponema pallidum is transmitted from a pregnant woman with syphilis to her fetus. A multiorgan infection, CS may result in a neurologic or musculoskeletal handicap or death in the fetus when not properly treated. Trends in CS rates in women of childbearing age follow by approximately 1 year the rates of primary and secondary syphilis. The last national syphilis epidemic, which was followed by a CS epidemic, occurred during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The syphilis rate began to decline in 1991; the CS rate began to decline in 1992. To evaluate CS epidemiology since this decline, CDC analyzed 1998 CS notifiable disease data and assessed rate changes during 1992-1998. This report summarizes the results, which indicate that the CS rate declined 78.2% from 1992 to 1998, and that rates remained disproportionately high in the southeastern United States and among minority racial/ethnic populations.