Abstract
INTRODUCTION Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum. Considering the high rates of syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis reported in Brazil in the past, and their serious consequences, this study described the epidemiological and clinical profile of pregnant women with a confirmed diagnosis of syphilis in Campo Grande, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, from 2011 to 2017. METHODS: This is a descriptive study, based on syphilis notifications among pregnant women reported to the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (National System of Disease Notification of Brazil).RESULTS: Over the study period, 2,056 confirmed cases of syphilis in pregnancy were reported, resulting in a crude cumulative incidence of 144.76 cases per 1,000 live-born babies. The incidence increased from 9.97 cases per 1,000 live-born babies in 2011 to 36.10 cases per 1,000 live-born babies in 2017. It was more prevalent in women who were young, of mixed race, with low educational attainment. Over one third of women were diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy; therefore, they were at risk of reinfection if they or their sexual partners were inadequately treated. Furthermore, syphilis was not well classified according to its clinical stage, which led to inappropriate treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Despite efforts to reduce the incidence of syphilis, syphilis during pregnancy remains a public health problem, reflecting possible inadequacies in antenatal care, especially in vulnerable populations. It is important to include sexual partners in syphilis treatment during pregnancy to prevent reinfection.
Highlights
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum
Cases reported outside the study period, cases of syphilis in pregnant women living in other municipalities or in rural and peri-urban areas, and women who were seropositive from a previous infection were excluded
There was a continuous and marked increase in the incidence of syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy
Summary
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum. The incidence increased from 9.97 cases per 1,000 live-born babies in 2011 to 36.10 cases per 1,000 live-born babies in 2017 It was more prevalent in women who were young, of mixed race, with low educational attainment. It is important to include sexual partners in syphilis treatment during pregnancy to prevent reinfection. Congenital syphilis is a disease of public health importance because it can cause early and late complications in infants, including premature birth, low birth weights, skin lesions, periostitis or osteitis, anemia, and seizures[4]. In 2016, the Plan of Action for the Prevention and Control of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (2016-2021) was released, and prevention measures, including increased access to diagnosis and early treatment of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), were expanded to reduce their incidence by 20215
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