Overpopulation in Asia

Congenital syphilis was a rather rare disease in this region. During the period of four years from July 1, 1954 till July 1, 1958 15 patients suffering from this disease were admitted in the two children’s wards. Among these patients was a high mortality: 8 of these infants died in hospital. Five out of these 8 died of the syphilis and the other three patients of enteritis (2 cases) and meningitis coli (1 case).
The diagnosis Congenital syphilis was based on the findings of the clinical and X-ray examination, while some serological test were also at our disposa. It was possible, to examine the blood of patient, mother and father with Wassermann-, Sachs Georgi- and V.D.R.L. -test. The X-ray examination was limited to the arms and legs.
In all these patients with one exception the Wassermann-test was positive. For one infant of 4 months old this test was negative.
The treatment of these patients was penicillin (water – soluble) in a dose of 200,000 units per kilogram bodyweight in a twelve-day period. The first day the infant got 5,000 Units and on the second day 10,000 Units, while the rest was divided over 10 days.
The occurrence of congenital syphilis is rather rare in Jogjakarta. In the period July 1, 1931 till august 1, 1935 24 cases were treated in the children’s ward of Bethesda hospital. (Lie Hing Dhiam).
The blood of the pregnant women, who were examined during the period 1954-1956 in the maternity centre for prenatal care, was checked with the Wassermann-test. Out of the 786 women, who were examined 16 appeared to have a positive result of the Wassermann-test, which was very probably due to a syphilitic infection.
The possibility that a former infection of yaws was responsible was carefully taken into account and did not seem very probable for these 16 women.
Most of these pregnant women lived in the town of Jogjakarta (42.5%), the others in Sleman (34.5%) and Bantul (12.3%). All these women belonged to the population-group with low-very low income.