Congenital Syphilis
What is congenital syphilis (CS)?
Congenital syphilis is a disease caused by the transmission of the syphilis infection from a pregnant person to their child, either during pregnancy or childbirth.
What are the symptoms and complications of CS?
The clinical presentation of CS can vary widely depending on the duration of the mother?s syphilis infection and if or when they received treatment.
- CS can cause severe complications like miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, and death shortly after birth.
- Infants born with CS can have deformed bones, anemia, hepatomegaly, jaundice, nervous system issues (blindness, deafness, meningitis), or skin rashes.
While it's possible that a baby born with CS will have no symptoms, without treatment, the baby can still develop severe complications from CS in the weeks to months after birth.
What are the current syphilis testing recommendations from the Indian Health Service for pregnant women?
The Indian Health Service recommends a three-point syphilis testing strategy for all pregnant women. This includes testing for syphilis during their first prenatal visit, at the start of their third trimester, and at the time of delivery.
What treatments are available for congenital syphilis?
Syphilis can be treated and cured with antibiotics called penicillin. It is essential to get treated immediately after testing positive and complete the entire treatment. A doctor will do follow-up testing to ensure the treatment is successful.
How can I reduce this risk of my baby getting CS?
CS can only occur if the mother has syphilis during her pregnancy. Seek prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant and get tested for syphilis during your first prenatal appointment. Treatment with penicillin during pregnancy is 98% effective at preventing CS. Reduce your risk of contracting syphilis before and during your pregnancy by practicing safer sex, such as limiting sexual partners with an unknown syphilis status and using latex condoms every time you have sex.
