Congenital syphilis. Why is it still occurring?
L. Mascola, R. Pelosi, J. H. Blount, N. J. Binkin, C. E. Alexander and W. Cates Jr
A total of 159 cases of early congenital syphilis were reported in the
United States during 1982, with Texas reporting 50 cases. We reviewed these
Texas cases to identify the most important characteristics on which to
focus control efforts. Thirty-eight mothers were 25 years of age or
younger; 33 were unmarried. All were from minority groups. No congenital
syphilis occurred in whites. Blacks were twice as likely as Hispanics to
have an infected infant. Foreign-born Hispanic women were three times more
likely to be delivered of an infected child than Hispanics born in the
United States. Attendance at prenatal care facilities significantly
affected the risk of being delivered of an infected child in both black and
Hispanic women; 31 women received no prenatal care. Based on these
findings, congenital syphilis in Texas can be reduced primarily through
improving prenatal care for high-risk populations and by refining
casefinding efforts to control infectious syphilis in the community.
