Congenital syphilis

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Congenital syphilis
Hutchinson's teeth, a sign of congenital syphilis
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Rash, fever, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, anemia, deafness, Hutchinson's teeth
Complications	Neurological disorders, bone deformities, developmental delays
Onset	At birth or within the first few months of life
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Treponema pallidum infection transmitted from mother to child
Risks	Untreated syphilis in the mother
Diagnosis	Blood test, physical examination, X-ray
Differential diagnosis	Neonatal sepsis, rubella, toxoplasmosis
Prevention	Prenatal care, screening and treatment of syphilis in pregnant women
Treatment	Antibiotics, typically penicillin
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable, depends on severity and timing of treatment
Frequency	Varies by region, higher in areas with limited access to prenatal care
Deaths	N/A

Congenital Syphilis

Microscopic image of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium causing congenital syphilis.

Congenital syphilis is a life-threatening bacterial infection in newborns, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It occurs when a mother with syphilis transmits the infection to her baby during pregnancy.

Transmission

Congenital syphilis is transmitted from an infected mother to her baby through the placenta. The risk of transmission depends on the stage of the mother's syphilis infection and whether she has received treatment.

Signs and Symptoms

Infants with congenital syphilis may exhibit symptoms such as:

• Irritability
• Fever
• Failure to thrive
• Saddle nose deformity
• Skin rash
• Pneumonia

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of congenital syphilis typically involves:

• Blood tests for syphilis antibodies
• Physical examination for characteristic symptoms
• Bone X-rays to detect bone abnormalities

Treatment

Early treatment is crucial and typically involves:

• Intravenous or intramuscular penicillin therapy
• Treatment of the infected mother to prevent re-infection

Prevention

Prevention strategies include:

• Routine syphilis screening for all pregnant women
• Immediate treatment for women diagnosed with syphilis during pregnancy

External Links

• CDC: Congenital Syphilis
• World Health Organization: Syphilis

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