Determining the presence of syphilis during pregnancy will help the delivery of tests. All tests are done by taking blood from the fingers or a vein, as well as cerebrospinal fluid.
Diagnosis of syphilis during pregnancy
Screening for syphilis is of two types:
- Microreaction Precipitation (MP) – Antibody values from 1: 2 to 1: 320 indicate infection. At a late stage, antibody readings are small.
- Wasserman reaction (PB, RW) – Indicator “-” – you are healthy, “++” – unlikely infection (additional tests are assigned), “+++” – most likely you are infected, “++++” – you are infected syphilis. Antibody counts of 1: 2 and 1: 800 indicate infection.
Analyzes that recognize syphilis:
- PCR is an expensive type of analysis that detects the DNA of a poor treponema in the body of a future mother. In the case of a negative outcome indicator, the woman is healthy, in the case of a positive result, you are most likely ill, but there is still no 100% guarantee of syphilis. Assigned additional tests.
- Immunofluorescence reaction (RIF) – recognizes syphilis at an early stage. The result is ““ – ”- you are healthy. Having at least one plus point – you are infected.
- Reaction of passive agglutination (RPGA) – recognizes syphilis at any stage. If the antibody index is 1: 320, you have recently become infected. A high figure suggests that you have been infected for a long time.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) – determines the stage of the disease. Assigned as an additional analysis. A positive result indicates a syphilis infection or a previous illness before pregnancy.
- Pale Treponema Immobilization Reaction (RIBT) – used when false test results are suspected.
- Immunoblotting (Western Blot) – diagnoses congenital syphilis in babies.
Causes of erroneous or false positive results:
- Chronic connective tissue diseases.
- Heart diseases.
- Infectious diseases.
- Recently made vaccinations.
- Drug or alcohol use.
- Diabetes.
- Previously cured syphilis.
- Pregnancy.
Tests for syphilis during pregnancy, women pass two times.
Is syphilis dangerous for a child?
Transfer of syphilis to the child is possible at any stage of pregnancy. It is transmitted to the child through the placenta during gestation or upon contact of a newborn baby with a sick mother during childbirth.
Syphilis increases the risk of a stillborn baby or miscarriage. It provokes premature labor and intrauterine growth retardation.
The probability of infection with syphilis of the child during pregnancy, if the disease is not treated, is almost 100%, after which in 40% of cases infected newborns die instantly after birth.
The babies who survived show signs of syphilis during the first 2 years, and the latest signs appear in the first 20 years of life.
Infection can cause damage to a child’s organs, such as the eyes, ears, liver, bone marrow, bones, and heart. Pneumonia, anemia and other pathologies may have an infected child.
There are precautions and treatments that will protect the child from possible pathologies. Follow them in position and after birth.
Syphilis treatment during pregnancy
The good news is that syphilis is treated with antibiotics.
That the treatment was effective:
- Make sure the gynecologist understands that you have syphilis.
- Treat all emerging diseases during pregnancy as soon as possible.
- Get tested regularly.
Most often, doctors prescribe penicillin to a pregnant woman. It is not recommended to take it yourself, as it can cause side effects (dizziness, muscle pain, early contractions) in syphilis. Dosage prescribed by a doctor.
Refrain from sexual intercourse with a partner until the disease is completely cured.
Symptoms of syphilis during pregnancy
General signs of syphilis during pregnancy at any stage:
- Sores on the genitals;
- Rash on the body, pustular lesions;
- Fever;
- Weight loss;
- Signs of flu.
The first two years of the signs and symptoms of syphilis may not appear. In this case, the disease is recognized at a later stage, when neurological symptoms and cardiovascular lesions appear.
Stages of syphilis during pregnancy
In the first stage of syphilis, the main symptom is chancre. Chancre – a rash with convex edges, located inside the oral cavity or on the genitals. Detection of syphilis at this stage is treated for 3-6 weeks.
Ignoring the first stage of the disease leads to the reproduction and spread of infection through the bloodstream. With this, the second stage of the disease begins , it is accompanied by a rash on the palms and feet, the appearance of warts on the body and genitals, as well as hair loss. The infection is curable at this stage.
The third stage of syphilis is manifested within 30 years after a lesion and causes serious heart disease.