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Congenital Syphilis

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Congenital syphilis (CS) occurs when syphilis passes to babies during pregnancy. Syphilis is an STI that can cause serious health problems without treatment.

CS cases have more than tripled in recent years, with more than 3,800 cases reported in 2023 alone. This is the highest number reported in one year since 1994.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of babies born with syphilis in the U.S. Protect your baby from  by getting tested for syphilis during your pregnancy.

Congenital syphilis can have major health impacts on your baby. How CS affects your baby’s health depends on how long you had syphilis and if — or when — you got treatment for the infection.

Congenital syphilis can cause:

  • Miscarriage (losing the baby during pregnancy)
  • Stillbirth (a baby born dead)
  • Prematurity (a baby born early)
  • Low birth weight
  • Death shortly after birth

Up to 40% of babies born to women with untreated syphilis may be stillborn, or die from the infection as a newborn. It can also cause:

  • Deformed bones
  • Severe anemia (low blood count)
  • Enlarged liver and spleen
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • Brain and nerve problems, like blindness or deafness
  • Meningitis
  • Skin rashes
  • Do all babies born with congenital syphilis have signs or symptoms?
  • I’m pregnant. Do I need to get tested for syphilis?
  • Is there treatment for syphilis?
  • How will my doctor know if my baby has congenital syphilis?
  • My baby was born with congenital syphilis. Is there a way to treat the infection?
  • How can I reduce the risk of my baby getting congenital syphilis?

No. It is possible that a baby with congenital syphilis (CS) won’t have any symptoms at birth. But without treatment, the baby may develop serious problems. Usually, these health problems develop in the first few weeks after birth, but they can also happen years later.

Babies who do not get treatment for CS and develop symptoms later on can die from the infection. They may also be developmentally delayed or have seizures.

Yes. All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis at the first prenatal visit (the first time you see your health care provider during pregnancy). If you don’t get tested at your first visit, make sure to ask  about getting tested during a future check-up.

Keep in mind that you can have syphilis and not know it. Many people with syphilis do not have any symptoms. Also, syphilis symptoms may be very mild, or be similar to signs of other health problems. The only way to know for sure if you have syphilis is to get tested.

Yes. Syphilis can be treated and cured with antibiotics. If you test positive for syphilis during pregnancy, be sure to get treatment right away.

If you are diagnosed with and treated for syphilis, your doctor should do follow-up testing for at least one year to make sure that your treatment is working.

Your doctor must consider several factors to determine if your baby has congenital syphilis. These factors will include the results of your syphilis blood test and, if you were diagnosed with syphilis, whether you received treatment for syphilis during your pregnancy.

Your doctor may also want to test your baby’s blood, perform a physical exam of your baby, or do other tests, such as a spinal tap or an x-ray, to determine if your baby has CS.

Yes. There is treatment for congenital syphilis (CS). Babies who have CS need to be treated right away — or they can develop serious health problems. Depending on the results of your baby’s medical evaluation, he/she may need antibiotics in a hospital for 10 days. In some cases, only one injection of antibiotic is needed.

It’s also important that babies treated for CS get follow-up care to make sure that the treatment worked.

Your baby will not get congenital syphilis (CS) if you do not have syphilis. There are two important things you can do to protect your baby from getting CS and the health problems associated with the infection:

  • Get a syphilis test at your first prenatal visit
  • Reduce your risk of getting syphilis before and during your pregnancy

Talk with your health care provider about your risk for syphilis. Have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STD testing. 

Get a syphilis test at your first prenatal visit

If you are pregnant, and have syphilis, you can still reduce the risk of CS in your baby. Getting tested and treated for syphilis can prevent serious health complications in both mother and baby.

Prenatal care is essential to the overall health and wellness of you and your unborn child. The sooner you begin receiving medical care during pregnancy, the better the health outcomes will be for you and your unborn baby.

At your first prenatal visit, ask your doctor about getting tested for syphilis. It is important that you have an open and honest conversation with your doctor at this time. Discuss any new or unusual physical symptoms you may be experiencing, as well as any drugs/medicines you are using, and whether you have new or multiple sex partners. This information will allow your doctor to make the appropriate testing recommendations. Even if you have been tested for syphilis in the past, you should be tested again when you become pregnant.

If you test positive for syphilis, you will need to be treated right away. Do not wait for your next prenatal visit. It is also important that your sex partner(s) receive treatment.

Having syphilis once does not protect you from getting it again. Even after you’ve been successfully treated, you can still be reinfected. For this reason you must continue to take actions that will reduce your risk of getting a new infection.