Overview
Congenital syphilis is an infection that a baby gets from their mother during pregnancy or childbirth. It is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum, the same germ that causes syphilis in adults. When a pregnant woman has untreated or inadequately treated syphilis, the bacteria can cross the placenta and infect the developing baby. This can happen at any point during pregnancy. The disease can affect almost every organ system in a baby's body. It is divided into two main forms: early congenital syphilis, which appears in the first two years of life, and late congenital syphilis, which shows up after age two. Early signs can include skin rashes, bone pain, a swollen liver and spleen, anemia, and fluid buildup. Late signs may include problems with teeth, bones, eyes, ears, and the nervous system. Some babies are born with no obvious symptoms at first but develop problems later. The good news is that congenital syphilis is both preventable and treatable. Routine prenatal screening and treatment of syphilis in pregnant women with penicillin can prevent the infection from passing to the baby. Babies who are diagnosed and treated early with penicillin have a much better chance of a healthy outcome. Without treatment, the disease can cause serious long-term disability or even death.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Skin rash, including sores on the palms and solesSwollen liver and spleenYellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)Anemia (low red blood cell count)Bone pain or swellingRunny nose with bloody discharge (snuffles)Low birth weight or premature birthFluid buildup in the body (hydrops)Hearing lossVision problems or blindnessNotched or peg-shaped teeth (Hutchinson teeth)Saddle-shaped nose deformityIntellectual disability or developmental delaysSeizuresMeningitis (infection around the brain)
Clinical phenotype terms (46)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
FDA & Trial Timeline
6 eventsUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham — PHASE4
Gardiens de Vies
University of California, Los Angeles — PHASE2
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine — PHASE2
St George's, University of London
Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement — NA
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
1 availableRetrovir
Prevention of maternal-fetal HIV-1 transmission
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Congenital syphilis.
Community
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Congenital syphilis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: The TRIple Elimination Model Of Mother-to-child Transmission Program (TRI-MOM)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Congenital syphilis
New recruiting trial: Evaluation of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis to Prevent Syphilis in Pregnancy in Patients at Risk in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Congenital syphilis
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Has my baby's nervous system been affected, and does that change the treatment plan?,How long will my baby need penicillin treatment, and how will it be given?,What follow-up tests will my baby need, and how often?,Are there any long-term complications I should watch for as my child grows?,Should my baby have a hearing test and eye exam, and when?,What developmental support or early intervention services should we consider?,Is there anything I need to do to protect future pregnancies?
Common questions about Congenital syphilis
What is Congenital syphilis?
Congenital syphilis is an infection that a baby gets from their mother during pregnancy or childbirth. It is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum, the same germ that causes syphilis in adults. When a pregnant woman has untreated or inadequately treated syphilis, the bacteria can cross the placenta and infect the developing baby. This can happen at any point during pregnancy. The disease can affect almost every organ system in a baby's body. It is divided into two main forms: early congenital syphilis, which appears in the first two years of life, and late congenital syphilis, which
How is Congenital syphilis inherited?
Congenital syphilis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Congenital syphilis typically begin?
Typical onset of Congenital syphilis is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Congenital syphilis?
Yes — 2 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Congenital syphilis on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Congenital syphilis?
13 specialists and care centers treating Congenital syphilis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
What treatment and support options exist for Congenital syphilis?
1 patient support program are currently tracked on UniteRare for Congenital syphilis. See the treatments and support programs sections for copay assistance, eligibility, and contact details.