Congenital lues; Fetal syphilis

Symptoms in newborns may include:

• Failure to gain weight or failure to thrive
• Fever
• Irritability
• No bridge to nose (saddle nose)
• Early rash -- small blisters on the palms and soles
• Later rash -- copper-colored, flat or bumpy rash on the face, palms, and soles
• Rash of the mouth, genitalia, and anus
• Watery discharge from the nose

Symptoms in older infants and young children may include:

• Abnormal notched and peg-shaped teeth, called Hutchinson teeth
• Bone pain
• Blindness
• Clouding of the cornea
• Decreased hearing or deafness
• Gray, mucus-like patches on the anus and outer vagina
• Joint swelling
• Refusal to move a painful arm or leg
• Saber shins (bone problem of the lower leg)
• Scarring of the skin around the mouth, genitalia, and anus

If the disorder is suspected at the time of birth, the placenta will be examined for signs of syphilis. A physical examination of the infant may show signs of liver and spleen swelling and bone inflammation.

A routine blood test for syphilis is done during pregnancy. The mother may receive the following blood tests:

• Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorbed test (FTA-ABS)
• Rapid plasma reagin (RPR)
• Venereal disease research laboratory test (VDRL)

An infant or child may have the following tests:

• Bone x-ray
• Eye examination
• Lumbar puncture
• Dark-field examination to better detect syphilis-related bacteria under a microscope

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Congenital syphilis Overview

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Congenital syphilis Treatment

Review Date: 11/02/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Norhtwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)