Open AccessThe effects of case definition in maternal screening and reporting criteria on rates of congenital syphilis.
Author(s) -
Deborah A. Cohen,
David T. Boyd,
Irene Prabhu-Das,
Laurene Mascola
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.80.3.316
Subject(s) - congenital syphilis , syphilis , medicine , early syphilis , pediatrics , serology , treponematosis , family medicine , sexually transmitted disease , immunology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antibody
Reports of congenital syphilis in 1987 were reviewed to determine how new national guidelines for defining congenital syphilis would influence reported rates in Los Angeles County. After reviewing all reported reactive serologic tests for syphilis, we found 166 additional cases, resulting in a 426 percent increase in the 1987 reported rate of congenital syphilis. Rates of congenital syphilis are dependent upon surveillance practices, screening policies, and case definition.