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Congenital Syphilis
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If you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested for the STD, syphilis, during your first and third trimesters to ensure your baby is not infected with congenital syphilis (CS). 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.
Information about Treatment and Prevention for CS
What is congenital syphilis? Congenital syphilis (CS) is a disease that occurs when a mother with syphilis -- a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if not treated -- passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy through the placenta. The infection can also be passed to the baby during labor and delivery. Syphilis can be treated and cured with antibiotics. If you test positive for syphilis during pregnancy, be sure to get treatment right away. If you are diagnosed with and treated for syphilis, your doctor should do follow-up testing for at least one year to make sure that your treatment is working. There is treatment for CS. Babies who have CS need to be treated right away — or they can develop serious health problems. Depending on the results of your baby’s medical evaluation, he or she may need antibiotics in a hospital for 10 days. In some cases, only one injection of antibiotic is needed. It’s also important that babies treated for CS get follow-up care to make sure that the treatment worked. A baby born with CS can be treated. All pregnant women in Georgia should be tested for syphilis at the first prenatal visit (the first time you see your doctor for health care during pregnancy) and again during the third trimester of pregnancy. This is mandated by state law. Keep in mind that you can have syphilis and not know it. Many people with syphilis do not have any symptoms. Also, syphilis symptoms may be very mild or similar to signs of other health problems. The only way to know for sure if you have syphilis is to get tested. If you are pregnant, and have syphilis, you can still reduce the risk of CS in your baby. Getting tested and treated for syphilis can prevent serious health complications in both mother and baby. Prenatal care is essential to the overall health and wellness of you and your unborn child. The sooner you begin receiving medical care during pregnancy, the better the health outcomes will be for you and your unborn baby. At your first prenatal visit, ask your doctor about getting tested for syphilis. It is important that you have an open and honest conversation with your doctor at this time about your sexual history and about STD testing. Discuss any new or unusual physical symptoms you may be experiencing, as well as any drugs/medicines you are using, and whether you have new or multiple sex partners. This information will allow your doctor to make the appropriate testing recommendations. Even if you have been tested for syphilis in the past, you should be tested again when you become pregnant. If you test positive for syphilis, you will need to be treated right away. Do not wait for your next prenatal visit. It is also important that your sex partner(s) receive treatment. Having syphilis once does not protect you from getting it again. Even after you’ve been successfully treated, you can still be re-infected. For this reason, you must continue to take actions that will reduce your risk of getting a new infection. Preventing syphilis in women and their sex partners is the best way to prevent CS. If you are sexually active, the following things can lower your chances of getting syphilis: Also, talk with your doctor about your risk for syphilis. Your doctor can give you the best advice on any testing and treatment that you may need. Remember that it’s possible to get syphilis and not know it, because sometimes the infection causes no symptoms, only very mild symptoms, or symptoms that mimic other illnesses. Your baby will not get CS if you do not have syphilis. There are three important things you can do to protect your baby from getting CS and the health problems associated with the infection: The HIV and Syphilis Pregnancy Screening Law (§31-17-4.2.) mandates that all pregnant women be tested for syphilis and HIV in the first and third trimesters of their pregnancy. Key points of the law: Syphilis treatment at least 30 days before birth has proven effective at decreasing the chances a baby is born with congenital syphilis. HIV antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and prophylaxis to the newborn, dramatically reduce perinatal transmission of HIV. Providers should make the first and third trimester testing for syphilis and HIV part of their routine prenatal care – because it is the law and for the health and well-being of every mother and child in Georgia. For additional information about mandatory testing, please contact your local district health office or call the Georgia Department of Public Health at 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584). You can schedule testing for syphilis and HIV by calling the Georgia AIDS and STD information line for assistance at: 1-800-551-2728. Where can I get more information? STD information and referrals to STD Clinics CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) American Sexual Health Association (ASHA)Information about Treatment and Prevention for CS
CS can be treated
Pregnant women should be tested
Get a syphilis test at your first and third prenatal visit.
How to reduce risk before and during pregnancy
How can I reduce the risk of my baby getting CS or other health problems?
The HIV and Syphilis Pregnancy Screening Law (§31-17-4.2.)
Where can I get more information?
CDC-INFO
1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
In English, en Español
P.O. Box 6003
Rockville, MD 20849-6003
E-mail: npin-info@cdc.gov
P. O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3827
1-800-783-9877
*This webpage was developed using the information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Page last updated 11/03/2020
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