Browsing by Author "Bekker, Carien"
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- ItemIn-hospital outcomes of congenital syphilis(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Bekker, Carien; Van Wyk, Lizelle; Smith, Johan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Paediatrics and Child Health.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction. Congenital syphilis remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although treatable, a worldwide penicillin shortage has led to a resurgence of this disease. The current state of congenital syphilis in the Western Cape, South Africa is unknown. We aim to describe the mortality and clinical outcomes of congenital syphilis at a resource restricted academic hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Methodology. This was a retrospective, descriptive study performed at Tygerberg Hospital, in 2016, of all neonates diagnosed with congenital syphilis. All neonates with a positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for congenital syphilis, admitted to Tygerberg Hospital neonatal service, within the first month of life, were included. Neonates were excluded if clinical data were not available. Results. Seventy neonates were diagnosed with congenital syphilis. The mean gestational age was 34.8±3.7 weeks and mean birth weight was 2247±717g.The most common clinical findings included respiratory distress (54%), bone abnormalities (43%), thrombocytopaenia (32%) and hepatomegaly (30%). Survival was 89%, with mortality significantly associated with septic shock and prematurity. Conclusion. We present a cohort, over one year, of congenital syphilis with an 89% survival rate, despite significant morbidities. Prematurity and septic shock were associated with increased mortality. Despite this, most neonates survived and were transferred to other facilities or discharged within 2 weeks of birth.