Syphilis in pregnancy

UNLABELLED: Inadequately treated, maternal syphilis often results in serious sequels for the fetus/newborn. Poor prenatal care is a major risk factor for the development of congenital syphilis. AIM: To determine the results of syphilis screening and followup programs on the incidence of syphilis in pregnant women and their offspring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on the incidence of syphilis, new syphilis cases, pregnant women diagnosed with syphilis and newborns confirmed with congenital syphilis in the Iasi district in the interval 2000-2009 have been collected. RESULTS: In the interval 2000-2010 the incidence of syphilis in the lasi district has decreased from 47.5/100,000 inhabitant in 2001 to 10.5% in 2009, and the new syphilis cases from 627 in 2001 to 87 in 2009. The highest number of pregnant women infected with syphilis was recorded in 2006 (74), and the lowest in 2010 (26). Most newborns confirmed with congenital syphilis were also recorded in 2006 (6), in the interval 2008-2010 no such case being recorded. CONCLUSIONS: All pregnant women have to be subjected to a serological screening test for syphilis at least twice during pregnancy: early during the first trimester and after week 28. Moreover, the women at risk for syphilis have to be examined serologically at delivery. All women who miscarry after 20 weeks of gestation have to be tested for syphilis. All newborns whose mothers' serological status for syphilis was not determined during pregnancy have to be tested before discharge.