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You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Congenital Syphilis

Congenital Syphilis

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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

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Alternate Names : Congenital Lues, Fetal Syphilis


Definition

An infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum (syphilis) passed from mother to child during fetal development or birth.

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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Expectant mothers who are infected with syphilis can transmit the disease through the placenta to their unborn infants. Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling, and often life-threatening condition for the infant. Nearly half of all children infected with syphilis during gestation die shortly before or after birth.

Infants who survive develop early-stage and late-stage symptoms of syphilis if not treated. Early-stage symptoms include irritability, failure to thrive, and nonspecific fever. Some infants develop a rash and lesions (sores) on the borders of the mouth, anus, and genitalia (called condyloma lata).

Some of these lesions may resemble the wart-like lesions of adult syphilis. A small percentage of infants have a watery nasal discharge (sniffles) and a saddle nose deformity resulting from infection in the cartilage of the nose. Bone lesions are common, especially in the upper arm (humerus).

Later signs appear as tooth abnormalities (Hutchinson teeth), bone changes (saber shins), neurological involvement, blindness, and deafness. Despite the fact that this disease can be cured with antibiotics if caught early, rising rates of syphilis amongst pregnant women in United States have recently increased the number of infants born with congenital syphilis.



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Definition
Congenital Syphilis Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Congenital Syphilis Symptoms & Signs
Congenital Syphilis Prevention
Congenital Syphilis Diagnosis & Tests
Congenital Syphilis Treatment
Congenital Syphilis Prognosis
Congenital Syphilis Complications
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Pictures & Images

Topics that might be of interest to you

Diseases & Conditions

Failure to Thrive
Genital Warts
Syphilis

Tests & Exams

Bone X-Ray
FTA-ABS
VDRL

Other Topics

Blindness
Bone Pain or Tenderness
Cloudy Cornea
Fever
Gestational Age
Hearing Loss
Hepatomegaly
Irritability
Joint Swelling
Low Nasal Bridge
Nasal Discharge
Nosebleed
Patches
Physical Examination
Rashes
Splenomegaly
Vesicles

Review Date : 7/30/2002
Reviewed By : Jonathan Fanaroff, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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