What is Congenital syphilis?

Congenital Syphilis is a severe, disabling, and often life-threatening infection seen in infants. A pregnant mother who has syphilis can spread the disease through the placenta to the unborn infant. The causative agent of congenital syphilis is the spirochete, Treponema pallidum, which is passed from mother to child in-utero (vertical transmission). Mother-to-child transmission of syphilis occurs in up to 80% of cases in untreated mothers. Early congenital syphilis is defined as a condition affecting an infant or child (< 2 years) whose mother had untreated or inadequately treated syphilis at delivery, regardless of signs in the infant. Late congenital syphilis is a condition that manifests from third year of life onwards following vertically acquired infections.