FREQUENCY OF SYPHILIS AND HIV/AIDS IN PREGNANT WOMEN AVAILING ANTENATAL CARE

ABSTRACT

Aims: To Study the frequency of Syphilis in pregnant women coming to a public sector hospital and see the positivity for HIV/AIDs in those found positive to Syphilis. Also see the pregnancy outcome of positive mothers and disease transmission in neonates

Settings: Study was conducted at PMRC Research Centre, Fatima Jinnaha Medical College in collaboration with Gynecology & Obstetrics out patient department of Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore.  

Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending Ganga Ram hospital for antenatal care. Blood samples from 2000 women were collected after taking consent from them. The blood was tested for syphilis by TPHA (Treponema Pallidum Haemagglutination) and for HIV (syphilis positive cases only) using Enzyme Immunoassay EIA.  Infected mothers were followed for delivery outcomes such as abortion, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, preterm delivery and still birth. Neonates born to infected women were examined for signs of congenital syphilis including non immune hydrops, jaundice, skin rash, pseudo paralysis and running nose along with blood test for either infection. Medical and reproductive histories were also obtained from women and recorded on a proforma.

Results: The treponemal antibodies were detected in 0.45% (9) pregnant women. The highest positivity was obtained among age group of 21-26 years. There was no statistically significant difference of acquiring infection among women of different age, education, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Women in third trimester were significantly more infected with syphilis. Risk factors included husband’s history with frequent traveling and drug abuse. All the husbands of syphilis positive women were also positive. All positive women along with their husbands were negative for HIV/AIDS. Out of 9 couples 3 refused treatment, 1 received only one dose of penicillin, 2 received two doses while only three couples completed all doses. Delivery outcome included one abortion, two preterm deliveries and none of the neonate had sign of congenital syphilis. Only one couple consented for blood sampling of their neonate which was positive for syphilis and was referred to pedreatition.

Conclusion: Only 0.4% of pregnant women were infected with syphilis, and most of the spouses of these positive women were either travelers or drug addicts. Pregnant women belonging to this high risk group need antenatal checking along with treatment of both the couples if found positive.

Keywords: Syphilis, HIV/AIDS, pregnant women.