Congenital Syphilis Rates Increasing
While ‘men who have sex with men’ account for the majority of cases of both primary and secondary syphilis in the United States, the rates of syphilis in women are increasing. It naturally follows that the rates of congenital syphilis are increasing as well. Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant mother is infected with the spirochete, Treponema pallidum, and transmits the infection through the placenta to her unborn child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all pregnant women should be screened for the syphilis infection. Treatment with penicillin is extremely effective in preventing transfer of the infection to the unborn baby, while without treatment, 70% of mothers will transmit the infection to their child. Babies born with congenital syphilis can have deformities and abnormalities affecting multiple organ systems.