A total of 159 cases of early congenital syphilis were reported in the United States during 1982, with Texas reporting 50 cases. We reviewed these Texas cases to identify the most important characteristics on which to focus control efforts. Thirty-eight mothers were 25 years of age or younger; 33 were unmarried. All were from minority groups. No congenital syphilis occurred in whites. Blacks were twice as likely as Hispanics to have an infected infant. Foreign-born Hispanic women were three times more likely to be delivered of an infected child than Hispanics born in the United States. Attendance at prenatal care facilities significantly affected the risk of being delivered of an infected child in both black and Hispanic women; 31 women received no prenatal care. Based on these findings, congenital syphilis in Texas can be reduced primarily through improving prenatal care for high-risk populations and by refining casefinding efforts to control infectious syphilis in the community. ( JAMA 1984;252:1719-1722)

Congenital Syphilis: Why Is It Still Occurring?

Prenatal evaluation of abdominal cystic masses can be complex and challenging. We report the case of a fetus with a large cystic abdominal mass and discuss how the differential diagnosis was narrowed to include McKusick-Kaufman syndrome (MKS). MKS is characterized by the triad of postaxial polydactyly, congenital heart disease, hydrometrocolpos, and genital malformations in males. Rare conditions such as MKS are difficult to diagnose prenatally and require postnatal phenotyping and molecular studies before a definitive diagnosis can be established.

McKusick‐Kaufman syndrome: The difficulty of establishing a prenatal diagnosis of an uncommon disorder

Imperforate hymen may present as either hydrometrocolpos in neonatal period or as hematocolpos after menarche Acute urinary retention due to hematocolpos is rare We present the cases of two female adolescents who presented to our clinic with acute urinary retention and were diagnosed with hematocolpos After literature review, the rarity of its presentation as urinary retention has emerged In this study diagnosis, complications, and treatment of hematocolpos are discussed

Acute urinary retention due to hematocolpos: Report of two cases

Despite widespread prenatal serological screening, the Centers for Disease Control recently reported that from 2005 to 2008, congenital syphilis increased by 23%, many being born to black women in the southern United States. We collected data on the epidemiology of this condition in our institution for the past 18 years (January 1, 1991-December 31, 2008). There has been a marked decrease in the incidence of active infection since the 1990s. Through the 18 years period reviewed, only 21 cases of active neonatal infection were documented among 699 babies who had a positive rapid plasma reagin test. Of these 21 cases, only one was symptomatic. As compared to previous studies, poor prenatal care has still the greatest correlation with active infection. This study might contribute towards the reinforcement of current programs and the formulation of newer strategies towards control and elimination of this condition.

Epidemiology of congenital syphilis in a South Bronx population: a follow-up study.

McKusick-Kaufman-Syndrom

McKusick-Kaufman Syndrome (MK catalogue #236700) Presenting Prenatally as Fetal Abdominal Mass

Mckusick-kaufman syndrome (MK catalogue #236700) presenting prenatally as fetal abdominal mass

Congenital syphilis (CS) continues to occur despite widespread serologic testing of pregnant women.' The incidence of CS generally reflects the prevalence of untreated primary and secondary syphilis in women of childbearing age? Reported cases of CS in the United States increased from 115 to 268 during the period 1978-1985: Metropolitan New York and three states-Texas, California, and Florida-accounted for 80% of the reported cases of CS in 1985. Mascola et al., after a retrospective review of 50 cases under 1 year of age, identified risk factors for developing CS.' A prospective study was undertaken in a section of New York City to determine factors that may have resulted in failure of prevention of CS in the first week of life.

Ben K Rajegowda

Papers

Mckusick-kaufman syndrome (MK catalogue #236700) presenting prenatally as fetal abdominal mass

Congenital Syphilis in an Urban Population