Pediatric Infection and Vaccine

  • 제29권3호
  • /
  • Pages.161-165
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  • 2022
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  • 2384-1079(pISSN)
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  • 2384-1087(eISSN)
대한소아감염학회 (The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases)
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A Case of Successful Treatment of Congenital Syphilis in an Extremely Preterm Baby With Severe Respiratory Distress

  • Yoon Kyung Cho (Department of Pediatrics, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Yeon Kyung Lee (Department of Pediatrics, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Sun Young Ko (Department of Pediatrics, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • 투고 : 2022.05.31
  • 심사 : 2022.08.20
  • 발행 : 2022.12.25
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초록

We report a case of successful treatment of congenital syphilis in an extremely preterm baby. A 1,395 g female infant was born by emergency Caesarean section due to preterm labor and breech presentation at gestational age at 29 weeks and 3 days with an Apgar score of 2 and 4 at 1 minute and 5 minutes, respectively. The mother of the newborn, an illegal immigrant who did not receive any antenatal care, was diagnosed as active syphilis infection by reactive rapid plasma regain (RPR) (titer 1:128) just before the delivery. Upon birth, the newborn presented with various clinical manifestations, including severe respiratory distress syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, desquamation and scaling of the whole body, and osteolytic changes of long bone ends. Results of laboratory tests showed signs of early congenital syphilis, including positive syphilis reagin test (12.7 R.U.), reactive with RPR titer of 1:64, and positive for immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test. However, after completion of penicillin G treatment for two weeks, laboratory results dramatically improved, showing a negative syphilis reagin test (0.5 R.U.) and non-reactive in RPR. In conclusion, the incidence of congenital syphilis is prone to be resurgent in South Korea, neonatologists should be fully aware of the clinical features of congenital syphilis because early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential in order to reduce the social and economic burden due to congenital syphilis.

키워드

과제정보

We would like to thank Harisco (www.harrisco.net) for English language editing and Dr. Min Soo Kim (Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.) for managing this patient.

참고문헌

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