Early congenital syphilis still occurs

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Early congenital syphilis is a serious concern, with seven cases reported in a decade.
• Maternal serology can be negative initially or treatment may fail, necessitating further screening.
• Risk factors include late antenatal booking, history of STDs, and multiple partners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze cases of early congenital syphilis.
• To identify challenges in diagnosis and management.
• To recommend strategies for prevention and improved outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case review of early congenital syphilis.
• Analysis of antenatal screening, maternal treatment, and infant outcomes.
• Identification of social and clinical risk factors.

Main Results:

• Five mothers had initially negative antenatal serology.
• Two cases involved probable treatment failure with erythromycin.
• Clinical signs in infants included failure to thrive, hepatosplenomegaly, rash, rhinitis, and osteochondritis.

Conclusions:

• Repeat antenatal serology is recommended for high-risk pregnancies.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for optimal management.
• Penicillin remains the primary treatment for congenital syphilis.