Syphilis among HIV-infected mothers and their infants in Texas from 1988 to 1994.

BACKGROUND

Syphilis was investigated in a group of HIV-infected women and their infants.

GOAL: To assess syphilis morbidity among HIV-infected women and their infants. Among women with syphilis during pregnancy, the risks for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis were assessed.

STUDY

DESIGN

Through the Pediatric Spectrum of HIV Disease project, Texas infants born to HIV-infected women were identified. After the infants were matched with their mothers, it was determined which had been reported as syphilis cases.

RESULTS

In this study 18% of the HIV-infected mothers were reported as syphilis cases, most during pregnancy. Half of these mothers delivered infants (n = 49) with congenital syphilis. Inadequate prenatal care was the only significant risk for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis. The congenital syphilis rate among Texas infants of HIV-infected mothers was 48.8 per 1,000 live births.

CONCLUSION

The congenital syphilis rate among Texas infants born to HIV-infected mothers was almost 50 times that of the general population.