MATERNAL and INFANTILE INFECTION WITH CHLAMYDIA IN A SWEDISH POPULATION

Abstract

Abstract. Persson, K., Rönnerstam, R., Svanberg, L. and Holmberg, L. (Departments of Clinical Virology, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology and Paediatrics, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden). Maternal and infantile infection with chlamydia in a Swedish population. Acta Paediatr Scand, 70:101, 1981.– Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 2.4% of 1328 puerperal women. The frequency was highest in the age group below 20 years and thereafter decreased with increasing age. Chlamydial conjunctivitis was confirmed in 0.4% of the infants. Two additional cases of conjunctivitis occurred among the exposed infants but chlamydia cultures were not obtained. In a separate oph‐thalmological material of neonatal conjunctivitis a third of the cases developing within the first month of life was associated with chlamydia. The early and sharp incidence peak for chlamydial conjunctivitis suggested that transmission occurred at delivery. No cases of chlamydial pneumonia were noted. Peroral chemotherapy is recommended in infants for systemic eradication of C. trachomatis.