Congenital syphilis

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Antibodies

Congenital syphilis is an infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum (syphilis), which can be passed from mother to child during fetal development or birth.

Congenital lues; Fetal syphilis

An expectant mother who is infected with syphilis can transmit the disease through the placenta to the unborn infant. Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling, and often life-threatening condition for the infant. Nearly half of all children infected with syphilis during gestation die shortly before or after birth.

Infants who survive develop early-stage and late-stage symptoms of syphilis, if not treated. Early-stage symptoms include irritability, failure to thrive, and nonspecific fever. Some infants develop a rash and lesions (sores) on the borders of the mouth, anus, and genitalia.

A small percentage of infants have a watery nasal discharge and a saddle nose deformity resulting from infection in the cartilage of the nose. Bone lesions are common, especially in the upper arm (humerus).

Later signs appear as tooth abnormalities (Hutchinson teeth), bone changes (saber shins), neurological involvement, blindness, and deafness. Despite the fact that this disease can be cured with antibiotics if caught early, rising rates of syphilis amongst pregnant women in the United States have recently increased the number of infants born with congenital syphilis.

Review Date: 09/29/2006
Reviewed By: Patrika M. Tsai, MD, MPH, Specialist in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Foster City, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.