Questionnaire survey of reported early congenital syphilis: problems in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
A retrospective questionnaire survey of a sample of 173 of the 360 cases of early congenital syphilis reported in 1972 revealed serious problems with diagnostic certainty, prevention, and treatment of congenital syphilis. Only 24 (13.9%) of the reported cases could be categorized as probably or definite cases based on criteria developed from a literature review. Forty percent of the mothers received no prenatal care and an additional 19% received no prenatal care until the third trimester. Initial and followup serologic testing was inadequate in those who received care. Eighty-three different penicillin treatment schedules were used in the treatment of 128 infants. Carefully reasoned diagnostic and therapeutic decision making about the management of congenital syphilis appears to be lacking.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D013591:Syphilis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis; D013592:Syphilis, Latent / Q000175:diagnosis; D014481:United States
D010402:Penicillin G Procaine; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine