Congenital syphilis

Syphilis resulting in the transmission of the spirochete from the mother to her unborn baby before or during birth. Incorrectly referred to as hereditary syphilis since syphilis is not caused by any genetic anomaly.


Syphilis which is passed on from a mother to her unborn child.


Congenital syphilis is a form of syphilis diagnosed in children who are born with the disease. It is caused by the same spirochete, Treponema pallidum, that causes syphilis in adults. The disease is passed to the fetus from the infected mother before birth. Children with congenital syphilis may have symptoms immediately upon birth or may have none for several years (Syphilis, congenital, n.d.).


Syphilis transmitted from the mother to the fetus in utero. Transplacental fetal infection may occur if a pregnant woman is not treated by the 18th week of gestation or contracts the disease later in pregnancy. In the U.S. in 2000, 529 cases of congenital syphilis were reported.


Syphilis passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy.


Syphilis occurring from birth, transmitted from an infected mother to her unborn child, resulting in the baby developing bony deformities like a saddlenose, frontal bossing (enlargement of the front of the skull), bulldog jaw, Hutchinson’s teeth, saber-shaped tibial bones, along with skin eruptions, tissue wasting, and various other abnormalities.


 


Posted

in

by

Tags: