Brazilian Protocol for Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2020: congenital syphilis and child exposed to syphilis

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 54; no. suppl 1; p. e2020597
• Main Authors: Domingues, Carmen Silvia Bruniera, Duarte, Geraldo, Passos, Mauro Romero Leal, Sztajnbok, Denise Cardoso das Neves, Menezes, Maria Luiza Bezerra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 01-01-2021; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Congenital syphilis; Consensus; Diagnosis; Female; Humans; Monitoring; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - prevention & control; Prenatal care; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - diagnosis; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Syphilis; Syphilis - diagnosis; Syphilis - drug therapy; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis, Congenital - diagnosis; Syphilis, Congenital - prevention & control; Therapeutics; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Brazil; Congenital syphilis; Diagnosis; Syphilis; Prenatal care; Monitoring; Therapeutics
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-597-2020

The topics of congenital syphilis and children exposed to syphilis compose the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for Comprehensive Care for People with Sexually Transmitted Infections, published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 2020. Such document was elaborated based on scientific evidence and validated in discussions with specialists. This article provides guidelines for syphilis in pregnant women and congenital syphilis clinical management, emphasizing the vertical transmission of Treponema pallidum prevention. Epidemiological and clinical aspects of these infections are presented and recommendations for managers in the programmatic and operational management of syphilis. The article also includes guidelines for health professionals in screening, diagnosing, and treating people with sexually transmitted infections and their sex partners, in addition to strategies for surveillance actions, prevention, and control of the disease. Most congenital syphilis cases arise from test failures in prenatal care or inadequate or no treatment of maternal syphilis.