Reported cases of congenital syphilis in the French national hospital database

Abstract

In France, the resurgence of syphilis infection since the beginning of the 2000s, with cases reported among women of reproductive age is a reason for concern considering the possible occurrence of congenital syphilis (CS). Using the French national private and public hospital database, we investigated the number of children with a diagnosis of CS born in France in 2004. Six cases less than one year old were identified as probable CS in the database. Two of these cases were adopted children from outside Europe, whereas the other four were born in France. The mothers of these last four infants tested positive for syphilis during the third trimester of pregnancy, two of them during premature delivery. Three of the four mothers were born abroad. Specific socio-cultural conditions may have been responsible for a lack of antenatal care responsible for the disease. Since CS is a preventable disease and the treatment of syphilis infection is cost-effective, we conclude that surveillance of CS cases and assessment of syphilis screening practises during pregnancy should be performed to prevent the occurrence of CS cases in France.