Trends of syphilis in Posadas city (Misiones State, Argentina), 1997-2000 Incidência de sífilis na cidade de Posadas (estado de Misiones, Argentina), 1997-2000

• Published in: Jornal brasileiro de patologia e medicina laboratorial 2001-01, Vol.37 (4), p.253-259
• Main Authors: Ramón Alberto de Torres, Nora Jacquier, Luisa dos Santos, Marcelo Rodriguez Fermepin, Jorge Daniel Deschutter, Celsa Gonzalez de Duarte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescentes; Adolescents; Argentina; Congenital syphilis; Posadas; Syphilis; Sífilis; Sífilis congênita
• ISSN: 1676-2444; 1678-4774
• DOI: 10.1590/S1676-24442001000400006

Objectives: Misiones State is situated in the north-east of Argentina. The main objective was to establish the evolution of syphilis in Posadas city (300.000 inhabitants) from 1997 to 2000. Methods: Outpatients were studied at the STD clinics during 1997. Records of all pregnant women with babies due to the months of April to June, from 1997 to 2000 (n = 4700), were studied. Syphilis was confirmed by clinic, epidemiological and laboratory tests (VDRL and FTA-ABS). Results: Higher incidence of primary syphilis in outpatients was established among 15-19 year-old women and in 20-24 year-old men. The percentages of pregnant women with syphilis were 2.1% (1997), 2.6% (1998), 4.6% (1999) and 3.7% (2000). The most vulnerable age group was 15 to 19 year-old. Geographical distribution of cases changed from four clusters in 1997 to a wide occurrence in all city quarters with lower socioeconomic level (30% of population). Conclusion: Posadas city had an increase in cases of syphilis in pregnant women from 1997 to 1999. This evolution indicates that traditional STD-Aids programs have had no effect on safe sex practices, specially among adolescents. Home by home visits aimed at improving prenatal control as a priority, started in 1999. The incidence of the disease became stable in 2000, but still at a high rate. It is necessary to continue and improve the outreach activities. A cooperative program in these big "twin" cities: Encarnación (Paraguay) and Posadas (Argentina) - will be also of great help for syphilis control in the area.Objetivos: O estado de Misiones está situado no noroeste argentino, nas fronteiras oeste e norte com o Brasil e a leste do Paraguai. Este foi o interesse para estabelecer a evolução da sífilis na cidade de Posadas (300.000 habitantes), capital do estado de Misiones, desde 1997 até 2000. Métodos: A sífilis foi analisada por meio da avaliação epidemiológica, clínica e confirmação laboratorial (VDRL e FTA- ABS). Todas as mulheres grávidas no momento da evolução foram consultadas no hospital Madariaga, durante o período de abril a junho, de 1997 até 2000 (n = 4700), as quais foram incluídas nas análises. Resultados: A freqüência da sífilis em mulheres grávidas atendidas em hospital público foi de 2,1% (1997), 2,6% (1998), 4,6% (1999) e 3,7% (2000). A faixa etária de maior vulnerabilidade foi de 15 a 19 anos. A distribuição geográfica de casos originados de quatro grupos isolados em 1997 expandiu-se para uma grande ocorrência em todas as regiões