What does congenital syphilis mean?

What does congenital syphilis mean?

Congenital syphilis (CS) is a disease that occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy.

Can you cure congenital syphilis?

For some babies, congenital syphilis can be completely cured. For others, they may need treatment for health conditions caused by the infection. If your baby has congenital syphilis, it’s important that she gets treatment right away to help prevent complications.

What happens in congenital syphilis infections?

Late congenital syphilis begins after 2 years of life. Sores may form in the nose and mouth and bones may grow abnormally. Eye problems may cause blindness and scarring of the cornea (the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil). Problems with development of the teeth and bones in the face also occur.

How do you test for congenital syphilis?

A confirmed case of congenital syphilis is an infant in whom Treponema pallidum is identified by darkfield microscopy, fluorescent antibody, or other specific stains in specimens from lesions, placenta, umbilical cord or autopsy material.

What is the medical term for congenital syphilis?

Congenital syphilis is a chronic infectious disease caused by a spirochete (treponema pallidum) acquired by the fetus in the uterus before birth.

How old do you have to be to have congenital syphilis?

In late congenital syphilis, the symptoms of the disease do not usually become apparent until two to five years of age. In rare cases, the disease may remain latent for years with symptoms not being diagnosed until well into adulthood.

What are the side effects of congenital syphilis?

CS can cause: 1 Miscarriage (losing the baby during pregnancy), 2 Stillbirth (a baby born dead), 3 Prematurity (a baby born early), 4 Low birth weight, or 5 Death shortly after birth.

When did the incidence of congenital syphilis rise?

The incidence of congenital syphilis in newborns under a year old rose in the United States from 180 cases in 1957 to 422 cases in 1972. More recently there has been a dramatic increase of congenital syphilis, especially in urban areas, that has been attributed in part to crack cocaine use.