October 13, 2022

09:10

Karol Rocha – from Amazon Agency

MANAUS – Besides the prevention against breast cancer, October also alerts the society to face and fight against syphilis. The disease is caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium, and can be transmitted in an acquired way, that is, through sexual intercourse, or congenitally, when the mother transmits the disease to the fetus. The alert for the detection of cases happens in allusion to the National Day of Combat Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis celebrated next Saturday, 15th.

In Manaus, the city notified 2,345 cases of acquired syphilis, 1,089 records of syphilis in pregnant women and 199 cases of congenital syphilis, between January and July this year. In 2021, Manaus recorded 3,345 cases of acquired syphilis, 1,856 of syphilis in pregnant women and 304 cases of congenital syphilis. The data were released this month, by the Municipal Health Secretariat of Manaus (Semsa).

According to the infectious disease specialist Ana Galdina, the disease is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), exclusive to humans, curable, and can present countless clinical manifestations and stages. “It is a totally treatable disease, but every time you expose yourself, you can get infected again, which is why condoms are so important”.

The infectious disease specialist highlights the congenital syphilis, which is transmitted from mothers to babies, so pregnant women should be tested for the disease in Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) (Basic Health Units).

“This bacterium has the ability to cross the placenta and contaminate the baby. In early pregnancy, it can cause serious sequelae to the fetus, such as malformations, blindness, changes in neurological behavior, among others. If this contamination happens later in pregnancy, it still causes serious problems”, she explains, adding that the disease can worsen in the patient after birth, therefore, the importance of detection.

“The baby when it is born needs, obligatorily, to be treated for 10 days and needs to be followed up. If he is not treated, this syphilis can manifest 15, 20 years later, with very serious symptoms in the heart and central nervous system because of this syphilis that this baby acquired during intrauterine life”, said Ana Galdina.

Symptoms and care

According to the health professional, the signs and symptoms of syphilis vary according to each stage of the disease, which is divided into primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. As for the treatment, the patient can be medicated with doses of benzetacil.

“We can do a single dose or a weekly dose. Even after the treatment, the person has to seek medical attention to confirm that it was effective. If this treatment does not prove to be effective, the patient can enter latent syphilis and evolve to secondary or tertiary syphilis. The treatment is possible, but it has to be supervised by a doctor at all times”, concluded the specialist.

Quick test

Because of the date, a campaign to intensify the rapid tests for syphilis, prenatal care and the use of male and female condoms is being organized by the Municipal Health Secretariat (Semsa), with support from the Health Districts (Disa) North, South, East, West and rural. In all, 194 health units offer the rapid syphilis test.

“The procedure is easy to perform, with the result being read within 30 minutes, without the need for laboratory facilities. The recommendation is that sexually active people do the syphilis test routinely and that all pregnant women and their sexual partners perform the test”, said the manager of Epidemiological Surveillance of Semsa, Cláudia Rolim.

Guidelines and campaign

In the Basic Health Units (BHU), when the pregnant woman goes for prenatal care, the orientation is that the exam be done in the first consultation, preferably still in the first trimester of pregnancy, with a new exam in the third trimester of pregnancy, as well as at delivery, regardless of the results of previous exams, and also in case of abortion.

“Congenital syphilis ends up occurring when the pregnant woman does not do the prenatal care, does not perform the recommended tests for diagnosis or does not do it in the appropriate time to prevent the baby from being contaminated. There are also cases of reinfection after the treatment of the pregnant woman, since sexual partnerships in some situations do not seek the UBS for diagnosis and treatment, or do not use condoms”, added the manager.

During the campaign, the health units will develop educational activities in waiting rooms, schools, churches, and community associations, besides intensifying the offer of rapid testing and the distribution of condoms. Each Health District will also promote a “D Day”, during October, to alert the population about the disease.