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Syphilis in pregnant patients and their offspring
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Summary
Syphilis prevalence in pregnant women is extremely high at 15%, with a significant deficiency in treatment programs. Congenital syphilis affects 8% of babies, highlighting urgent public health concerns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Syphilis poses a significant risk to maternal and infant health.
- Antenatal screening is crucial for early detection and treatment of syphilis.
- Untreated syphilis can lead to severe congenital complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of syphilis among antenatal women and their newborns.
- To assess the effectiveness of the syphilis treatment program in the study population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1508 pregnant women and their babies at Pelonomi Hospital.
- Mothers were screened using rapid plasma reagin (RPR), Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL), and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) tests.
- Infant screening included RPR, VDRL, and ELISA for IgG and IgM on cord blood.
Main Results:
- A syphilis prevalence of 15% was found in mothers at delivery.
- Only 22% of mothers who tested positive received complete treatment.
- 8% of babies had reactive RPR tests, and 15% showed clinical signs of congenital syphilis.
Conclusions:
- The study documented an extremely high prevalence of syphilis in antenatal women.
- A major deficiency in the syphilis treatment program was identified.
- Urgent interventions are needed to improve syphilis screening and treatment during pregnancy.