Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling, and often life-threatening infection seen in infants. A pregnant mother who has syphilis can spread the disease through the placenta to the unborn infant.
Alternative NamesCongenital lues; Fetal syphilis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsCongenital syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which is passed from mother to child during fetal development or at birth. Nearly half of all children infected with syphilis while they are in the womb die shortly before or after birth.
Despite the fact that this disease can be cured with antibiotics if caught early, rising rates of syphilis among pregnant women in the United States have increased the number of infants born with congenital syphilis.
SymptomsSymptoms in newborns may include:
Symptoms in older infants and young children may include:
If the disorder is suspected at the time of birth, the placenta will be examined for signs of syphilis. A physical examination of the infant may show signs of liver and spleen swelling and bone inflammation.
A routine blood test for syphilis is done during pregnancy. The mother may receive the following blood tests:
An infant or child may have the following tests:
Penicillin is used to treat all forms of syphilis.
Expectations (prognosis)Many infants who were infected early in the pregnancy are stillborn. Treatment of the expectant mother lowers the risk of congenital syphilis in the infant. Babies who become infected when passing through the birth canal have a better outlook.
ComplicationsCall your health care provider if your baby has signs or symptoms of this condition.
If you think that you may have syphilis and are pregnant (or anticipate becoming pregnant), call your health care provider immediately.
PreventionSafer sexual practices may help prevent syphilis. If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, seek medical attention immediately to avoid complications like infecting your baby during pregnancy or birth.
Prenatal care is very important. A routine blood test for syphilis is done during pregnancy. This identifies infected mothers and allows them to be treated to reduce the risks to the infant and themselves. Infants born to infected mothers who received proper penicillin treatment during pregnancy are at minimal risk for congenital syphilis.
ReferencesWolff T, Shelton E, Sessions C, Miler T. Screening for syphilis infection in pregnant women: Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:710-716.
Workowski KA, Berman SM. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Congenital syphilis. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines 2006. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2006;55(RR-11):30-33.
Azimi P. Syphilis (Treponema pallidum). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 215.
Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling, and often life-threatening infection seen in infants. A pregnant mother who has syphilis can spread the disease through the placenta to the unborn infant.
Alternative NamesCongenital lues; Fetal syphilis
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsCongenital syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which is passed from mother to child during fetal development or at birth. Nearly half of all children infected with syphilis while they are in the womb die shortly before or after birth.
Despite the fact that this disease can be cured with antibiotics if caught early, rising rates of syphilis among pregnant women in the United States have increased the number of infants born with congenital syphilis.
SymptomsSymptoms in newborns may include:
Symptoms in older infants and young children may include:
If the disorder is suspected at the time of birth, the placenta will be examined for signs of syphilis. A physical examination of the infant may show signs of liver and spleen swelling and bone inflammation.
A routine blood test for syphilis is done during pregnancy. The mother may receive the following blood tests:
An infant or child may have the following tests:
Penicillin is used to treat all forms of syphilis.
Expectations (prognosis)Many infants who were infected early in the pregnancy are stillborn. Treatment of the expectant mother lowers the risk of congenital syphilis in the infant. Babies who become infected when passing through the birth canal have a better outlook.
ComplicationsCall your health care provider if your baby has signs or symptoms of this condition.
If you think that you may have syphilis and are pregnant (or anticipate becoming pregnant), call your health care provider immediately.
PreventionSafer sexual practices may help prevent syphilis. If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, seek medical attention immediately to avoid complications like infecting your baby during pregnancy or birth.
Prenatal care is very important. A routine blood test for syphilis is done during pregnancy. This identifies infected mothers and allows them to be treated to reduce the risks to the infant and themselves. Infants born to infected mothers who received proper penicillin treatment during pregnancy are at minimal risk for congenital syphilis.
ReferencesPatterson MJ, Davies HD. Syphilis (Treponema pallidum). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2011:chap 210.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 12/01/2011
John Goldenring, MD, MPH, JD, Pediatrician with the Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Maternal and congenital listeriosis and syphilis are treated with antibiotics.
he studied venereal diseases notably congenital syphilis.
Congenital: adj. # Of or relating to a condition that is present at birth, as a result of either heredity or environmental influences: a congenital heart defect; congenital syphilis.# Being or having an essential characteristic as if by nature; inherent or inveterate: "the congenital American optimism that denies conflicts and imagines all stories having happy endings"(Robert J. Samuelson). "Mark has a congenital defect that prevents him from playing sports"
Harry Brookes Allen has written: 'Syphilis, with reference to hereditament diagnosis and prevalence' -- subject(s): Syphilis, Congenital, hereditary, and infantile 'President's Address' -- subject(s): Medicine, Science
No, from her husband, the Elector Palatine, she contracted syphilis, which killed any hypothetical offspring either in the womb or shortly after birth, as contemporary medicine did not have a solution for congenital syphilis as it does now. Hope this helps!
You can die of untreated syphilis. Syphilis is easily treated, so it's not necessary to let it kill you.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary). The primary stage classically presents with a single chancre (a firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration), secondary syphilis with a diffuse rash which frequently involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, latent syphilis with little to no symptoms, and tertiary syphilis with gummas, neurological, or cardiac symptoms. It has, however, been known as "the great imitator" due to its frequent atypical presentations. Diagnosis is usually via blood tests; however, the bacteria can also be visualized under a microscope. Syphilis can be effectively treated with antibiotics, specifically the preferred intramuscular penicillin G (given intravenously for neurosyphilis), or else ceftriaxone, and in those who have a severe pencillin allergy, oral doxycycline or azithromycin.(Information taken from wikipedia)
Because syphilis gets into the blood.
No Syphilis is a human diesese that can not be transferred to pets
Primary of sore syphilis is a chancre.
Treponema pallidum causes syphilis. Syphilis is a serious disease, if untreated. Syphilis is sexually transmitted disease.
HPV and syphilis are different infections. Patients with genital warts should be screened for syphilis, though, since second-stage syphilis can also causes wart-like lesions.