challenges in prevention, diagnosis and treatment

Celebrated on the third Saturday of October, the National Day to Combat Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis seeks to emphasize the importance of diagnosis and adequate treatment for the disease during pregnancy and as a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), regardless of gender. Indicators from the Ministry of Health (MS) reveal that 79,587 cases of acquired syphilis were recorded in 2022, in Brazil. In pregnant women, 31,090 occurrences were recorded.

Syphilis is an infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. The condition has a cure and occurs exclusively in humans, according to the MS. The main route of transmission is sexual contact, followed by transmission to the fetus during the gestation period from a mother with untreated syphilis. Contaminated blood is also a vector of the disease.

“Syphilis goes through different stages. The primary phase is characterized by a painless ulcer, called chancre, which appears at the site of the bacteria’s entry, usually in the genitals, anus and mouth. In the secondary stage, which occurs after weeks or months without treatment, the disease can cause skin lesions, fever, sore throat, red spots on the skin and other symptoms”, explains infectious disease specialist and consultant at Sabin Diagnóstico e Saúde, Marcelo Cordeiro.

The condition continues to progress to the latent phase if there is no treatment. At this stage, the disease does not show obvious signs, although the bacteria continue to act. In some cases, the infection can reach the tertiary stage, which can cause serious damage to internal organs, nervous system and other parts of the body. Congenital syphilis can cause complications for the baby, including birth defects, developmental delays and neurological problems, among others.

“The important thing is to emphasize that syphilis is a curable disease with adequate treatment based on antibiotics. Therefore, it is essential that the disease is diagnosed and treated as early as possible to prevent complications and transmission to other people”, highlights the specialist.

Prevention and diagnosis

According to the Ministry of Health, the use of sexual condoms (male or female) during intercourse is the safest way to prevent the transmission of the disease. In addition, monitoring of pregnant women and sexual partners during prenatal care is recommended. The diagnosis of syphilis involves a combination of laboratory tests and clinical evaluation.

“In the case of laboratory tests, there is a screening test that detects the presence of antibodies produced by the body in response to infection by the bacteria. There are also other tests that are confirmatory, used to reaffirm positive results from screening tests. In specific cases, samples of body fluids, such as CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), can be collected and tested”, explains the infectious disease specialist.

The so-called treponemal tests are the main confirmatory tests, as they can identify specific antibodies to the bacteria that cause syphilis (generally, IgM and IgG) in the blood serum. The exam is considered simple and can also be done on newborns.

In addition to the tests, according to Marcelo Cordeiro, doctors perform a detailed physical examination on babies and children to identify possible signs of congenital syphilis, such as skin lesions, bone changes, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), among others. “In severe cases, imaging tests may be performed to assess the damage caused by congenital syphilis, such as bone x-rays,” he says.

Regional data

According to data from the Ministry of Health, Amazonas recorded 2,416 cases of acquired syphilis in 2022. Of this total, the majority (1,557) refer to male patients. In the case of women, there were 858 occurrences. There were 1,024 pregnant women with congenital syphilis, according to official data. In the case of pregnant women, the majority of cases (551) were registered in women aged 20 to 29 years.

*With information from consultancy

read more

‘Pink October’ and ‘Green October’ highlight the fight against female cancer and syphilis

Campaign reinforces the importance of preventing breast and cervical cancer in Manaus

Amazonas receives medicines and supplies from the Ministry of Health