Congenital Syphilis
Congenital Syphilis Causes
The disease is caused by an organism called Treponema Pallidum passed on from pregnant woman to child at the time of fetal development or during birth.
Congenital Syphilis Definition
Congenital syphilis is an intense, disabling, and frequently life-threatening infection reported in infants. Syphilis may be spread through an infected pregnant woman's placenta and pass on to the unborn child. Almost fifty percent of the children infected with the disease at the time of development die shortly prior or after their birth.
Congenital Syphilis Diagnosis
If the disease is suspected at birth, placenta is examined for syphilis signs. The infant undergoes physical examination that can show indications of spleen and liver swelling, as well as bone inflammation.
Congenital Syphilis Symptoms and Signs
Different indications of the disease show in newborns, older infant, and young child. Symptoms in newborn include irritability, nose has watery discharge, mouth/genitalia/anus rash, small blisters on soles and palms, thrive failure, failure of weight gain, saddle nose, and serious congenital pneumonia. Signs in young child and older infant include joint swelling, bone pain, saber shins, vision loss, abnormal teeth, vision loss, cornea clouding, and condylomata.
Congenital Syphilis Treatment
The treatment used in all types of syphilis is Penicillin. Infants that are born to infected women, who have received sufficient penicillin treatment while pregnant, are at low risk.