Congenital Syphilitic Skeletal Manifestations in a Premature Infant Revisited

Abstract

Increasing rates of congenital syphilis have been reported in recent years despite the availability of adequate therapy. In our perinatal-neonatal center, approximately 1.5 % of newborns have reactive serologic tests for syphilis.1 Untreated or partly treated maternal syphilis can adversely affect neonatal outcome since the treponeme can cross the placenta at any time during pregnancy. 2 As a result of hematogenous placental transmission, neonatal manifestations are usually systemic and similar to the secondary stage of syphilis, and include hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, neuro-syphilis, and skeletal changes. A case of early congenital syphilis in an extremely premature infant with primary skeletal involvement is presented.