Congenital Syphilis
Congenital syphilis occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth. Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Without timely treatment, the infection can lead to serious complications for the baby, including stillbirth, neonatal death, or long-term health issues.
Arkansas has seen a 156% increase in congenital syphilis cases from 2018-2023. According to the CDC, approximately 40% of babies born to women with untreated syphilis can be stillborn or die from the infection as a newborn. Timely testing and treatment during pregnancy might have prevented 9 in 10 cases in 2022 nationwide.
Signs and Symptoms
1st stage (primary syphilis)
- Symptoms begin 1-12 weeks after exposure
- A painless, open sore(s) on the mouth, genitals, or anus
- Sore(s) can be “hidden” in the vagina or rectum
- Sore(s) last 1-5 weeks
- Sore(s) goes away, but syphilis is still in the blood
2nd stage (secondary syphilis)
- Symptoms show up six weeks to 6 months after the sore appears
- A rash anywhere on the body
- Flu-like symptoms
- Whitish-grey patches on mouth/lips, wart-like lesions around genitals, and/or hair loss can occur but are less common
Latent stage
- No sores or rashes, but syphilis is still in the blood and can affect the heart, brain and other organs over time
What You Can Do
- Get Tested: Ensure syphilis screening is done during pregnancy
- Early Treatment: Start immediately and complete treatment if you are diagnosed with syphilis
- Partners: Ensure that all current sexual partners are informed, tested, and treated to avoid getting reinfected with syphilis
- Prevention: Correctly and consistently use condoms and dental dams during sexual activities. Avoid sexual contact with partners who have symptoms of syphilis infection. Talk to your partner(s) about their STI status and safer sex and encourage them to get tested.
