Open AccessDelayed diagnosis of maternal and congenital syphilis: An unrecognized epidemic?
Author(s) -
Zachary Dionosopoulos,
Fatima Kakkar,
Ana C. Blanchard
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
canada communicable disease report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1481-8531
pISSN - 1188-4169
DOI - 10.14745/ccdr.v48i23a10
Subject(s) - syphilis , congenital syphilis , treponema , medicine , pregnancy , primary syphilis , context (archaeology) , pediatrics , transmission (telecommunications) , sex organ , obstetrics , sexually transmitted disease , first trimester , gynecology , immunology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , fetus , paleontology , biology , electrical engineering , genetics , engineering
Syphilis is an infection caused by Treponema pallidum spirochetes. The diagnosis of this sexually transmitted disease may be missed, partly due to the painless nature of genital ulcers in its primary stage. Women in Canada are screened for syphilis in their first trimester of pregnancy, but late pregnancy testing is not done in all provinces to date; therefore, undetected vertical transmission of syphilis may occur. This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing congenital syphilis in infants and young children with unexplained growth problems and biochemical and hematological abnormalities. Congenital syphilis remains a rare diagnosis, but in the context of increased syphilis rates in Canada during recent years, clinicians should consider this diagnosis in infants presenting with compatible clinical manifestations.