Characteristics of high-risk adolescent outpatients with treponemal antibody

This study analyzes variables associated with syphilis infection among adolescents attending a public medical clinic in the District of Columbia. All adolescent clinic patients found to have Treponema pallidum antibody from June 1, 1989 through June 1, 1990 were included in the study. Medical records were reviewed for the following data: age, sex, presence or absence of court jurisdiction over the patient, chief complaint, concurrent infections, and the clinical stage of syphilis. The study population included 52 patients. The results revealed that male patients carry a higher risk of remaining undetected because only one third acknowledged any complaints prior to examination. This cohort study illustrates the predilection of syphilis for the indigent and underserved. Moreover, it highlights that insidious disease in adolescents is often unsuspected and undetected until routine screening tests are performed.