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Acquired Syphilis by Nonsexual Contact in Childhood
Guillermo Moscatelli1,2, Samanta Moroni1,2, Facundo García Bournissen1,2
1From the Servicio de Parasitología y Chagas, Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez," Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|July 26, 2021
Summary
Children can contract syphilis through nonsexual means, often from close contact with infected household members. Poor hygiene and overcrowding increase this risk, highlighting the importance of considering nonsexual transmission routes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Syphilis can be acquired by children through nonsexual contact with infected individuals.
- Close and repetitive contact with skin or mucosal lesions facilitates transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pediatric cases of nonsexually acquired syphilis.
- To identify risk factors and transmission dynamics in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of pediatric patients diagnosed with acquired syphilis.
- Exclusion of sexual transmission via thorough medical and psychosocial evaluations.
- Collection of demographic, clinical, laboratory, and serological data.
Main Results:
- Twenty-four children diagnosed with syphilis, with a mean age of 4.2 years.
- Overcrowded households with poor hygiene were common.
- Secondary syphilis skin lesions were the most frequent presentation (79.2%).
- Nonsexual transmission was confirmed in family members, with 29.5% testing positive for syphilis markers.
- 25% of treated children had negative non-treponemal antibody titers within 12 months.
Conclusions:
- Nonsexual transmission of syphilis is a significant concern in pediatric populations, particularly in settings with poor hygiene and overcrowding.
- Family members and caretakers pose a risk through practices like saliva-sharing.
- Thorough evaluation is crucial to identify nonsexual transmission routes when sexual abuse is not suspected.
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