Congenital Syphilis
This video highlights the importance of getting tested if you are a pregnant woman for congenital syphilis. The only way a child can contract congenital syphilis is for it to be passed from the mother to the baby. Key points the video addresses are how Congenital syphilis can cause problems for your baby and the mother during pregnancy such as:
Problems for the baby and mother:
- Deformed Bones
- Severe Anemia
- Enlarged Liver
- Enlarged Spleen
- Jaundice:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Premature Birth
If you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested for STDs, or syphilis, during your first and third trimesters to ensure your baby is not infected with congenital syphilis. Up to 40 percent of babies born to women with untreated syphilis may be stillborn or die from the infection as a newborn, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV and Syphilis Pregnancy Screening Law mandates that all pregnant women be tested for syphilis and HIV in the first and third trimesters of their pregnancy.
*This webpage was developed using the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Page Last Updated 12/31/2022