NEWBORN WITH CONGENITAL SYPHILIS: CASE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction: Congenital syphilis is caused by the spirochete, Treponema pallidum, which can be transmitted from the infected mother to the fetus by pregnancy. The incidence of congenital syphilis is growing rapidly across the world, with 700 000 to 1.5 million cases reported between 2016 and 2023. Despite the penicillin treatment beeing available, there were 2152 cases reported in 2020 in USA. Differential diagnosis should always consider congenital syphilis as a possible diagnosis in case of clinically unclear conditions and penicillin is still the first-line treatment, irrespective of the stage of the disease.
Objective: To show the importance of screening and prevention for congential symphilis in pregnancy.
Case presentation: We report a male newborn GD 37+5/7 born naturally to a mother who was syphilis positive in the second trimester and was treated with penicillin. After delivery, the newborn is admitted to the Clinical Department of Neonatology for lumbar puncture and extensive laboratory workup. Because of the possibility of other organ systems being affected, an extensive ultrasound scan is performed.
Conclusion: Although syphilis is not a major public health problem today, the most serious outcomes of this infection are associated with highly vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children. The screening of women for syphilis should become not only a health priority, but also a political priority for every country, and if there is a debate on the spread of this infection, the cure should be available to everyone.