Syphilis Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(3):147-152
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000300005
Purpose: to assess the commonest vulvovaginal complaints and vaginal discharge etiology in the Child and Teenager Gynecologic Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital of Brasília (AGIP/HUB). Methods: we evaluated retrospectively 210 charts of patients, younger than 19 years old, who attended AGIP/HUB with vulvovaginal complaints. Results: the average age of the 210 patients was 12 ± 2.3 years, and the vaginal discharge and vulvar pruritus were the commonest complaints. Unspecific inflammatory conditions were observed in 147 (70%) of these patients and their treatment consisted of appropriate clothing, daily activities and hygienic orientation. Antibiotic treatment was necessary in 63 patients, where specific etiologic agents were found. Gardnerella, Trichomonas, HPV and syphilis were observed only in sexually active patients. They had had their first sexual intercourse when they were 14.1 ± 1.6 years old. Twenty patients also presented vulvar complaints that were easy to handle. Conclusion: Hygiene, clothing and adequate orientation for these patients and their families are fundamental to treat vulvovaginitis, almost always avoiding the use of antibiotics.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(3):147-152
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000300005
Purpose: to assess the commonest vulvovaginal complaints and vaginal discharge etiology in the Child and Teenager Gynecologic Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital of Brasília (AGIP/HUB). Methods: we evaluated retrospectively 210 charts of patients, younger than 19 years old, who attended AGIP/HUB with vulvovaginal complaints. Results: the average age of the 210 patients was 12 ± 2.3 years, and the vaginal discharge and vulvar pruritus were the commonest complaints. Unspecific inflammatory conditions were observed in 147 (70%) of these patients and their treatment consisted of appropriate clothing, daily activities and hygienic orientation. Antibiotic treatment was necessary in 63 patients, where specific etiologic agents were found. Gardnerella, Trichomonas, HPV and syphilis were observed only in sexually active patients. They had had their first sexual intercourse when they were 14.1 ± 1.6 years old. Twenty patients also presented vulvar complaints that were easy to handle. Conclusion: Hygiene, clothing and adequate orientation for these patients and their families are fundamental to treat vulvovaginitis, almost always avoiding the use of antibiotics.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(10):647-652
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001001000006
Purpose: to study the prevalence of congenital syphilis in a universitary hospital of the south of Brazil, emphasizing its role as a prenatal care marker. Patients and Method: a descriptive study of the congenital syphilis cases which occurred at the Hospital Geral (HG-UCS) from June 1st, 2000 to May 31st, 2001, based on the diagnosis criteria proposed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 1998). Results: The prevalence of congenital syphilis was 1.5 (27 cases in 1739 births). The coefficient of congenital syphilis observed was 15.5/1000 newborns. Twenty-three pregnant women (85.2%) received prenatal care; however, the maternal infection with syphilis was diagnosed before the delivery in only 16 (69.6%) cases. Only 4 pregnant women reported an appropriate prenatal treatment of syphilis. In 8 (29.6%) cases an association of maternal syphilis with other sexually transmissible diseases was observed. The coefficient of perinatal mortality was 1.15/1000 births (two perinatal deaths). Conclusions: The authors reaffirm the importance of congenital syphilis as an indicator of perinatal health, since it is a disease that may be completely prevented by prenatal care. In addition, a high prevalence of congenital syphilis allows one to question the quality of the prenatal care, which was available to the studied group.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(10):647-652
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001001000006
Purpose: to study the prevalence of congenital syphilis in a universitary hospital of the south of Brazil, emphasizing its role as a prenatal care marker. Patients and Method: a descriptive study of the congenital syphilis cases which occurred at the Hospital Geral (HG-UCS) from June 1st, 2000 to May 31st, 2001, based on the diagnosis criteria proposed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 1998). Results: The prevalence of congenital syphilis was 1.5 (27 cases in 1739 births). The coefficient of congenital syphilis observed was 15.5/1000 newborns. Twenty-three pregnant women (85.2%) received prenatal care; however, the maternal infection with syphilis was diagnosed before the delivery in only 16 (69.6%) cases. Only 4 pregnant women reported an appropriate prenatal treatment of syphilis. In 8 (29.6%) cases an association of maternal syphilis with other sexually transmissible diseases was observed. The coefficient of perinatal mortality was 1.15/1000 births (two perinatal deaths). Conclusions: The authors reaffirm the importance of congenital syphilis as an indicator of perinatal health, since it is a disease that may be completely prevented by prenatal care. In addition, a high prevalence of congenital syphilis allows one to question the quality of the prenatal care, which was available to the studied group.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(2):101-106
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000200005
Purpose: to analyze the prevalence of gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis and HIV among patients attending a family planning clinic regarding presence of STD symptoms and risk behaviors. Methods: women between the ages of 18 and 30 years who attended a public family planning clinic in Brazil were tested for gonorrhea and Chlamydia using the urine-based DNA amplification test (LCR, Abbott), and a blood test for syphilis (VDRL) and HIV. All participants were asked questions about their health care seeking behavior, the presence of STD symptoms, and about the STD risk behaviors. Results: Chlamydia was found in 11.4%, syphilis in 2%, gonorrhea in 0.5% and HIV was confirmed positive in 3%. Approximately 61% of the women who were infected with Chlamydia had no symptoms. Women who never used condoms had much higher risks for STD than women who used them always or most of the time. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend for women who never used any contraceptive to have a higher risk for STD than women who used some method of contraception (p=0.09). However, when examining separately each contraceptive, none of them alone offered protection against STD. Very few women reported problems related to the use of alcohol or illegal drugs. But among those who did report such use, the risk for STD was very high, particularly regarding marijuana use. Conclusions: the most significant findings in our study were the high STD rates among a population of women generally reporting low-risk health behaviors. Based upon our findings it is crucial to offer STD/HIV screening to all women under 30 years who visit public family planning clinics. Without screening all women, more than half of the infected women will never be identified or treated. Given the new sensitive and specific technology available to screen for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV, and the ease of collecting urine specimens for diagnosis, more efforts should be directed to surveillance of populations at risk, so that current clinical practice may reflect the true risk of the populations.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(2):101-106
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000200005
Purpose: to analyze the prevalence of gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis and HIV among patients attending a family planning clinic regarding presence of STD symptoms and risk behaviors. Methods: women between the ages of 18 and 30 years who attended a public family planning clinic in Brazil were tested for gonorrhea and Chlamydia using the urine-based DNA amplification test (LCR, Abbott), and a blood test for syphilis (VDRL) and HIV. All participants were asked questions about their health care seeking behavior, the presence of STD symptoms, and about the STD risk behaviors. Results: Chlamydia was found in 11.4%, syphilis in 2%, gonorrhea in 0.5% and HIV was confirmed positive in 3%. Approximately 61% of the women who were infected with Chlamydia had no symptoms. Women who never used condoms had much higher risks for STD than women who used them always or most of the time. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend for women who never used any contraceptive to have a higher risk for STD than women who used some method of contraception (p=0.09). However, when examining separately each contraceptive, none of them alone offered protection against STD. Very few women reported problems related to the use of alcohol or illegal drugs. But among those who did report such use, the risk for STD was very high, particularly regarding marijuana use. Conclusions: the most significant findings in our study were the high STD rates among a population of women generally reporting low-risk health behaviors. Based upon our findings it is crucial to offer STD/HIV screening to all women under 30 years who visit public family planning clinics. Without screening all women, more than half of the infected women will never be identified or treated. Given the new sensitive and specific technology available to screen for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV, and the ease of collecting urine specimens for diagnosis, more efforts should be directed to surveillance of populations at risk, so that current clinical practice may reflect the true risk of the populations.