Congenital syphilis in the Municipality of Imperatriz, Maranhão State: Epidemiological characterization of a decade

Abstract

Congenital syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, is one of most prevalent diseases in Brazil. The diagnosis is made through treponemal and non-treponemal tests during prenatal care, in which reagent results are necessary to initiate treatment in order to avoid fetal contamination, miscarriage, prematurity, neurological sequelae, among other fetal and maternal complications. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of congenital syphilis to describe the epidemiological profile based on cases reported in the Municipality of Imperatriz, Maranhão State, Brazil. This is an exploratory, retrospective, descriptive and quantitative study developed between 2010 and 2017. The results obtained in the study reveal that in the period from 2010 to 2017, an accumulated total of 2,507 cases of congenital syphilis were reported in the state of Maranhão, and 514 cases were registered in Imperatriz, representing 20.50% of the total. The study demonstrated the need for effective measures to combat not only the infection of mothers, but also of partners; some of these diagnoses were only identified during or after childbirth/curettage. The lack of previous investigation or lack of adequate treatment during the gestation leading to maternal and fetal risk was evident.