Comparação dos casos de sífilis congênita antes e após implementação do teste rápido

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is a systemic chronic infectious disease that can be prevented and treated. The use of the rapid treponemal test for the early diagnosis and the appropriate treatment of maternal syphilis, may allow the control of vertical transmission. OBJECTIVE: To compare whether there were changes in clinical and laboratory characteristics and in the severity of cases of congenital syphilis, as well as maternal characteristics, in the periods before and after the implementation of the rapid test for syphilis. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in the municipality of Viamão, comparing the reported cases of congenital syphilis identified by maternal screening with the non-treponemic test (group I: 2012 to 2014) and by screening with the rapid treponemic test (group II: 2016 to 2018). Data were obtained through the Notifiable Diseases Information System. RESULTS: 66 cases were reported in group I and 196 in group II. The prevalence of congenital syphilis increased from 8.2 / 1,000 live births in group I to 26.3 / 1,000 live births in group II (p = 0.035). There was a greater number of mothers with more education after the implementation of the rapid test (p = 0.001) and more qualified occupations: (p = 0.03). There was a significant decrease in symptomatic congenital syphilis: group I - 11 (16.7%) cases; group II 12 (6.2%) (p = 0.02). The proven or highly probable congenital syphilis occurred in 16 (24.2%) cases in group I and 29 (14.8%) in group II and the possible in 49 (74.2%) cases in group I and 158 (80, 6%) in group II (p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: The rapid treponemic test provided the earliest diagnosis of gestational syphilis and babies with less severe congenital syphilis, although the incidence of congenital syphilis has increased.