Congenital syphilis: The continuing scourge

Abstract

Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling infection that occurs due to the transmission of Treponema pallidum across the placenta during pregnancy or from contact with an infectious genital lesion during delivery. However, its early diagnosis is often difficult because more than half of the affected infants are asymptomatic, and the signs in symptomatic infants may be subtle and nonspecific. Although its incidence is declining, this long-forgotten disease continues to affect pregnant women, resulting in considerable perinatal morbidity and mortality. We hereby report a case of a 2-month-old infant with early congenital syphilis presenting with joint swellings and Parrot's pseudoparalysis, a comparative rarity in the present scenario. The report also stresses upon the importance of implementing the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation that all the pregnant women should be screened for syphilis in the first antenatal visit in the first trimester and again in late pregnancy.

Diagnosis of Mercurial Teeth in a Possible Case of Congenital Syphilis and Tuberculosis in a 19th Century Child Skeleton

“…Differential diagnosis of B70 includes infectious and noninfectious diseases including congenital syphilis, tuberculosis, brucellosis, rickets, and fluorosis. Lesions in congenital syphilis can vary from periosteal reactions and osteomyelitis in the early stages [56][57][58] and cranial gummatous lesions and frontal bossing of the bone, destruction of the nasal bridge, a high arch palate, sternoclavicular thickening, and tibial bowing (sabre shin) in the late stage of the disease [15,16,[59][60][61]. With the exception of a possible localised periosteal reaction on the cranial vault of B70, there is minimal skeletal evidence to support the differential diagnosis of congenital syphilis.…”

Congenital syphilis as the cause of multiple bone fractures in a young infant case report

“…Large series of cases were reported before 2000. Later, because of the rarity of this disease, it was mainly case reports that were published in the literature [ 16 , 17 ].…”

A Case of Congenital Syphilis Presenting with Unusual Skin Eruptions

“…Congenital syphilis is an infectious disease resulting mainly from hematogenous transmission of Treponema pallidum , a spirochete bacterium, through the placenta of an infected mother to the fetus during pregnancy [ 1 ]. Occasionally, it can be acquired through direct contact with infectious lesions in the birth canal or on the perineum of the mother during the birth process [ 2 – 4 ]. Diagnosis of congenital syphilis can be difficult because more than two-thirds of affected infants are asymptomatic at birth, and signs of symptomatic infants may be nonspecific or subtle [ 1 , 2 , 5 ].…”

“…Occasionally, it can be acquired through direct contact with infectious lesions in the birth canal or on the perineum of the mother during the birth process [ 2 – 4 ]. Diagnosis of congenital syphilis can be difficult because more than two-thirds of affected infants are asymptomatic at birth, and signs of symptomatic infants may be nonspecific or subtle [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]. On top of this, some affected infants may have atypical presentations.…”