|
Congenital syphilis
Definition
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 Names
Congenital lues; Fetal syphilis
Causes
Congenital syphilis is caused by the organism Treponema pallidum, which is passed from mother to child during fetal development or 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 recently increased the number of infants born with congenital syphilis.
Symptoms
Symptoms in newborns may include:
- Failure to gain weight or failure to thrive
- Fever
- Irritability
- No bridge to nose (saddle nose)
- Early rash -- small blisters on the palms and soles
- Later rash -- copper-colored, flat or bumpy rash on the face, palms, soles
- Rash of the mouth, genitalia, and anus
- Severe congenital pneumonia
- Watery discharge from the nose
Symptoms in older infants and young children may include:
- Abnormal notched and peg shaped teeth called Hutchinson teeth
- Bone pain
- Blindness
- Clouding of the cornea
- Decreased hearing or deafness
- Gray, mucous-like patches on the anus and outer vagina
- Joint swelling
- Refusal to move a painful arm or leg
- Saber shins (bone problem of the lower leg)
- Scarring of the skin around the mouth, genitalia, and anus
Exams and Tests
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.
The mother may receive the following blood tests:
- FTA-ABS (fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed test)
- RPR (Rapid plasma reagin)
- VDRL (Venereal disease research laboratory test)
An infant or child may have the following tests done:
- Bone x-ray
- Eye examination
- Lumbar puncture
- Dark-field examination to better detect syphilis-related bacteria under a microscope
Treatment
Penicillin is used to treat all forms of syphilis.
Outlook (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.
Possible Complications
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Facial deformity
- Neurological problems
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call 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.
Prevention
Safer 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 a fetus 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.
Email to a Friend
Typical mistypes for Congenital syphilis
xongenital syphilis, vongenital syphilis, fongenital syphilis, dongenital syphilis, cingenital syphilis, ckngenital syphilis, clngenital syphilis, cpngenital syphilis, c0ngenital syphilis, c9ngenital syphilis, cobgenital syphilis, comgenital syphilis, cojgenital syphilis, cohgenital syphilis, confenital syphilis, convenital syphilis, conbenital syphilis, conhenital syphilis, conyenital syphilis, contenital syphilis, congwnital syphilis, congsnital syphilis, congdnital syphilis, congrnital syphilis, cong4nital syphilis, cong3nital syphilis, congebital syphilis, congemital syphilis, congejital syphilis, congehital syphilis, congenutal syphilis, congenjtal syphilis, congenktal syphilis, congenotal syphilis, congen9tal syphilis, congen8tal syphilis, congeniral syphilis, congenifal syphilis, congenigal syphilis, congeniyal syphilis, congeni6al syphilis, congeni5al syphilis, congenitzl syphilis, congenitsl syphilis, congenitwl syphilis, congenitql syphilis, congenitak syphilis, congenitap syphilis, congenitao syphilis, congenital ayphilis, congenital zyphilis, congenital xyphilis, congenital dyphilis, congenital eyphilis, congenital wyphilis, congenital stphilis, congenital sgphilis, congenital shphilis, congenital suphilis, congenital s7philis, congenital s6philis, congenital syohilis, congenital sylhilis, congenital sy-hilis, congenital sy0hilis, congenital sypgilis, congenital sypbilis, congenital sypnilis, congenital sypjilis, congenital sypuilis, congenital sypyilis, congenital syphulis, congenital syphjlis, congenital syphklis, congenital sypholis, congenital syph9lis, congenital syph8lis, congenital syphikis, congenital syphipis, congenital syphiois, congenital syphilus, congenital syphiljs, congenital syphilks, congenital syphilos, congenital syphil9s, congenital syphil8s, congenital syphilia, congenital syphiliz, congenital syphilix, congenital syphilid, congenital syphilie, congenital syphiliw, ongenital syphilis, cngenital syphilis, cogenital syphilis, conenital syphilis, congnital syphilis, congeital syphilis, congental syphilis, congenial syphilis, congenitl syphilis, congenita syphilis, congenitalsyphilis, congenital yphilis, congenital sphilis, congenital syhilis, congenital sypilis, congenital syphlis, congenital syphiis, congenital syphils, congenital syphili, ocngenital syphilis, cnogenital syphilis, cognenital syphilis, conegnital syphilis, congneital syphilis, congeintal syphilis, congential syphilis, congeniatl syphilis, congenitla syphilis, congenita lsyphilis, congenitals yphilis, congenital ysphilis, congenital spyhilis, congenital syhpilis, congenital sypihlis, congenital syphliis, congenital syphiils, congenital syphilsi, ccongenital syphilis, coongenital syphilis, conngenital syphilis, conggenital syphilis, congeenital syphilis, congennital syphilis, congeniital syphilis, congenittal syphilis, congenitaal syphilis, congenitall syphilis, congenital syphilis, congenital ssyphilis, congenital syyphilis, congenital sypphilis, congenital syphhilis, congenital syphiilis, congenital syphillis, congenital syphiliis, congenital syphiliss, etc.
|
|
|
