[Issues of congenital syphilis in the past twenty years. II. Clinical picture]

Abstract

The paper describes the clinical picture and management of congenital syphilis. In the introduction the origin of syphilis is mentioned. The etiologic agent -- Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (Tp) -- is transmitted to fetus almost exclusively via placenta. Perinatal infections are less frequent, and postnatal infections are only exceptionally. The symptoms of congenital syphilis may be divided into prenatal (syphilis materno-fetalis), neonatal, and rarely seen postnatal. Prenatal symptoms causing the immaturity of fetus are recognizable from the 7th month of pregnancy and associated with miscarriages, premature deliveries of still-born babies or live neonates with congenital syphilis. Neonatal and postnatal symptoms are manifested only after birth. They may present immediately at birth, develop within first two years of life as early congenital syphilis, or (similarly to acquired syphilis) later in life as a late localized form, often seen many years after birth, even at puberty -- late congenital syphilis. The clinical picture depends on many factors -- primarily on the duration of the infection in mother and the stage of pregnancy.