Congenital Syphilis

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is congenital syphilis? " пїЅ Congenital syphilis is a dangerous infection that babies can get if their mothers have syphilis during pregnancy. The term "congenital " пїЅ means a condition a person is born with. пїЅ пїЅ

Syphilis is an infection you can catch during sex that causes red sores, usually on the penis or around the vagina or anus. Since the sores dont hurt, many people don't get treatment for syphilis. If a woman has syphilis when she is pregnant, the infection can spread to the baby through the placenta. (The placenta is the organ that brings the baby nutrients and oxygen and carries away waste.) Babies can also become infected during birth. пїЅ пїЅ

Congenital syphilis is very serious. It can cause a baby to be born too early or to die before birth. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of congenital syphilis? " пїЅ Most newborns with congenital syphilis do not have symptoms. When they do, symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

A big liver " пїЅ The liver is an organ in the upper right side of the belly.
A runny nose " пїЅ This is worse than the runny nose from a common cold. Babies with congenital syphilis have mucus that is white and might be bloody. The mucus contains the germs that cause syphilis. You can get syphilis if you touch it.
Small, red or pink spots on the skin " пїЅ These are mostly on the back, the bottom, the back of the upper legs, and the soles of the feet. The skin spots contain the germs that cause syphilis. You can get syphilis if you touch them.
Swollen lymph nodes " пїЅ Lymph nodes are bean-shaped organs found all over the body under the skin. They make and store cells that fight infections.

Symptoms in older babies and children include: пїЅ пїЅ

A "saddle nose " пїЅ " пїЅ This means the upper bridge of the nose is flattened
A forehead that sticks out more than normal
Inflammation of the clear tissue that covers the colored part of the eye, called the "cornea " пїЅ
Hearing loss
Teeth that have notches and gaps between them
Scars around the mouth
Red, open sores on the skin
Problems with the bones and joints, mostly in the legs
Trouble thinking and solving problems

Are there tests for congenital syphilis? " пїЅ Yes. The doctor might take a sample of the discharge from the baby's nose or from a sore on the baby's body. Then another doctor will look at this fluid under a microscope to check for signs of the infection. пїЅ пїЅ

Other tests might include: пїЅ пїЅ

Blood tests
Lumbar puncture (also known as a "spinal tap " пїЅ) " пїЅ For this test, a doctor puts a thin needle in the lower back and removes a small amount of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. He or she will do lab tests on the spinal fluid.

How is congenital syphilis treated? " пїЅ Congenital syphilis is treated with a medicine called penicillin. The medicine can be given as an injection (shot) or through a small tube (called an "IV " пїЅ) that goes into a vein. пїЅ пїЅ

Can congenital syphilis be prevented? " пїЅ Preventing and treating syphilis in adults can prevent congenital syphilis. Adults can lower their chances of getting syphilis by: пїЅ пїЅ

Using a latex condom every time they have sex
Avoiding sex when either person has any symptoms that could be caused by an infection
Not having sex

Another way to prevent congenital syphilis is to make sure that women who get syphilis are treated. Getting treated before getting pregnant is best, but women can still get treated during pregnancy. It is important to get tested after treatment to make sure that the treatment worked. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 83398 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

Congenital Syphilis

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

Copyright