Treatment of sexual contacts of syphilitic pregnant women
Phaosavasdi, S.; Snidvongs, W.; Tasanapradit, P.; Ungthavon, P.; Bhongsvej, S.; Jongpiputvanich, S.; Vejjajiva, S.; Udomsantisuk, P.; Chitwarakorn, A.; Panikabutra, K.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 72(3): 132-137
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 2738493 Document Number: 330989
Between August 1984 and May 1985, 197 syphilitic pregnant women were diagnosed at the antenatal clinic, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. One hundred and sixty-nine male sexual contacts were serologically tested for syphilis and seventy-eight cases were found positive. Twenty-eight cases refused to be tested. Thirty-two syphilitic male contacts had cerebrospinal fluid tests and four were found to be abnormal. Fifty-three cases or 67.9 per cent of 78 syphilitic male consorts did not complete a full diagnostic and treatment protocol. They preferred to be treated with benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units intramuscularly for 3 consecutive weeks. After this treatment no patient agreed to a repeat spinal tap. This behavioral attitude concurred with their socioeconomic background. All were from a low socioeconomic group and lacked health knowledge. This made it difficult to work with them and contributed to inadequate management of their disease.