Varied Clinical Presentations of Congenital Syphilis in Infants: A Case Series of 7 Cases

Abstract

Congenital Syphilis (CS), also known as mother-to-child transmission of syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum. Infected pregnant women can transmit the infection vertically to the foetus. Diagnosis of CS can be difficult because more than two-thirds of affected infants remain asymptomatic at birth, and signs may be non-specific or subtle. In this case series, seven cases of CS with varied presentations are described. In cases 1, 2, 6, mothers were screened after the baby was tested positive for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test. In two cases (Case-4,6), the mothers received inadequate treatment for syphilis antenatally. In the present case series, Case-6 presented with renal manifestations early in the course of the disease, Case-2 had skin manifestations like vesicular lesions and peeling of skin and Case-7 had symptoms suggestive of meningitis. Because of its varied presentations, high index of suspicion is the key to diagnosis and treatment of CS and prognosis. Screening of pregnant women and treating them is the most effective way in preventing CS and its related morbidity and mortality.

Keywords

• meningitis
• renal manifestations
• venereal disease research laboratory
• vesicular lesions