Congenital syphilis is a serious disease that can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or birth. It can cause stillbirth or death shortly after birth, and can also lead to serious health problems for the baby. Screening and treatment during pregnancy can reduce the risks. Symptoms can be difficult to detect and may include irritability, fever, and abnormal development of the nose, legs, teeth, and joints, as well as deafness and blindness.
Syphilis is a contagious venereal disease usually characterized by genital ulcers. Congenital syphilis, also known as fetal syphilis, refers to cases where this infection is passed on to a baby from its mother. This infection can occur while the fetus is still in the womb or the disease can be transmitted at birth. This type of mother-to-child infection is not specific to any single country and can be found worldwide.
Pregnant women are commonly screened for syphilis during their first prenatal visits using a blood test. In some countries, it is common to conduct such tests routinely during pregnancy. In some countries, however, if the initial test is negative, the expectant mother may not be screened again unless an infection is suspected. This means that if you get the disease during pregnancy, you may go unnoticed.
A syphilis infection is serious for adults. It’s more serious, however, for a fetus or newborn. In most cases, adults do not die of syphilis. Congenital syphilis, however, poses serious risks to babies.
According to Medline Plus, nearly half of all babies infected with syphilis while in the womb die shortly before or after birth. These mother-to-child infections are more likely to be fatal and lead to stillbirth, when the fetus becomes infected early in pregnancy. Medline Plus notes that babies who are infected only as they pass through the birth canal have the best chance.
Congenital syphilis is treated with penicillin. The risks to the baby are usually dramatically reduced if the mother received treatment during pregnancy. If ulcers are present at the time of delivery, it is likely that the treating doctor will choose to deliver the baby via cesarean section.
The symptoms of congenital syphilis are often of such a nature that they can be attributed to other problems. For example, a child suffering from this condition is likely to be irritable and feverish. The infection can prevent your baby from gaining weight properly. A more obvious symptom, however, is a saddle nose. This is a condition where the baby’s nose lacks a bridge.
If the condition goes undetected close to the time of birth, the symptoms of congenital syphilis can become more severe as the baby ages. The lower leg or teeth may develop abnormally. The child may also suffer from swollen joints. The infection can also cause deafness and blindness.
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