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Congenital Syphilis: an Update

  • Pediatric Infectious Disease (M Mitchell and F Zhu, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

Congenital syphilis (CS) has been a forgotten disease in developed countries for many years. This review aims to provide an overview of CS including clinical manifestations, interpretation of syphilis serology, and updated management guidance.

Recent findings

Infectious syphilis has been on the rise in North America especially in females in their reproductive years. Consequentially, cases of CS have also significantly risen in recent years. Updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2021 changed their recommendations on the need for a repeat lumbar puncture at 6 months in infants who were diagnosed with neurosyphilis or had uninterpretable cerebrospinal fluid analysis at diagnosis. There is no longer a need to repeat the LP if the infant’s rapid plasma reagin declines appropriately.

Summary

Intravenous crystalline penicillin G for 10 days remains the mainstay of CS therapy. Ongoing public health interventions are needed to improve access to testing and treatment for pregnant women.

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Author notes

  1. Alison Lopez MD

    Present address: Paediatric Infectious Diseases Office, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Rd E, ON, N6A 5W9, London, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Western University, London, Canada

    Alison Lopez MD

  2. Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, JPCH Children’s Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Room 2718, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada

    Rupeena Purewal MD

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  1. Alison Lopez MD
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Correspondence to Alison Lopez MD.

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Conflict of Interest

Alison Lopez declares that there is no conflict of interest. Rupeena Purewal is a consultant for Verity Pharmaceuticals and receives honorarium for presentations, however, this is unrelated to the content of this manuscript. Rupeena Purewal declares that there is no conflict of interest.

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Lopez, A., Purewal, R. Congenital Syphilis: an Update. Curr Treat Options Peds 9, 36–44 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40746-023-00264-3

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