Congenital Syphilis at Hospital e Maternidade São José: experience report of medical students (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) constitute a serious public health problem that causes social, economic and health damages of great repercussion to populations, especially among women and children. Among STIs, syphilis deserves to be highlighted. Infectious and systemic disease, of worldwide scope and chronic evolution caused by Treponemapallidum, has man as the only host, transmitter and reservoir. Its transmission can occur sexually or vertically, it is more frequent in large urban centers and equally affects all social strata. This report deals with the experience of medical students in the IV clinical skills and medical attitudes module, in a pediatric rotation at HMSJ Colatina-ES, and their observations on congenital syphilis. During the visits and physical examinations carried out on newborns in the second half of 2018, it was possible to verify a considerable number of children undergoing treatment or screening for congenital syphilis, a point that drew the attention of university students due to the fact that the Ministry of Saúde advocates a series of diagnostic routines and care protocols from prenatal care to the postpartum period, measures that were experienced in Primary Care in the Interacting with the Community modules. It was observed that most of the mothers had limited knowledge, or were uninformed about the disease and its mother-infant complications, thus they did not have proof of previous treatment, or this was inadequate. The action of the academics consisted of an integral approach (humanized, educational and social), with the objective of carrying out an anamnesis and correct physical examination of the newborn, and of passing on some educational information to the families about the theme of the disease. It concludes with the experiences in Interacting with the Community and secondary care, the importance of prenatal care with a strong focus on health education, engendering more information for mothers and family members during pregnancy and the puerperium.