Congenital syphilis is syphilis present in utero and at birth, and occurs when a child is born to a mother with secondary or tertiary syphilis.

According to the CDC, 40% of births to syphilitic mothers are stillborn, 40-70% of the survivors will be infected, and 12% of these will subsequently die.

Manifestations of congenital syphilis

• abnormal x-rays
• Hutchinson's teeth (centrally notched, widely-spaced peg-shaped upper central incisors)
• mulberry molars (sixth year molars with multiple poorly developed cusps)
• frontal bossing
• saddle nose
• poorly developed maxillae
• enlarged liver
• enlarged spleen
• petechiae
• other skin rash
• anemia
• lymph node enlargement
• jaundice
• pseudoparalysis
• snuffles, the name given to rhinitis in this situation.
• rhagades, linear scars at the angles of the mouth and nose result from bacterial infection of skin lesions

Death from congenital syphilis is usually through pulmonary hemorrhage.

See also

• Syphilis

Diseases