2023-12-01 06:03:11
This neglect is unjustified, but we understand that the recent syphilis epidemics are of greater concern. Syphilis contracted by a fetus can be more devastating and lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death. Congenital syphilis also carries an increased risk of serious complications.
As a recent father myself, my heart breaks at the thought of future parents who receive this diagnosis or, even worse, who learn that it was syphilis that took their child. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
For more prenatal care
Experts have shown us that measures exist to prevent all of this. Congenital syphilis might be prevented if health systems offered expectant parents more prenatal care, including syphilis screening and sexual health education.
A study in Edmonton found that syphilis screening was part of prenatal blood tests for only 5 mothers out of 16 stillbirths due to congenital syphilis between 2018 and 2021.
However, it is possible to do even more upstream, in particular by tackling epidemics as soon as they appear, regardless of the population affected.
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#Lessons #neglected #epidemic #syphilis