Congenital syphilis: A guide to diagnosis and management

Although congenital syphilis is a rare disease in Canada, infected infants may experience severe sequelae, including cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, sensorineural hearing loss and musculoskeletal deformity. Timely treatment of congenital syphilis during pregnancy may prevent all of the above sequelae. However, the diagnosis of suspected cases and management of congenital syphilis may be confusing, and the potential for severe disability is high when cases are missed. The present review provides assistance to practitioners in the diagnosis of suspected cases and management of children with presumed or confirmed infection.