Increasing Cases
The number of babies with congenital syphilis is increasing in Washington and the United States. Congenital syphilis can cause serious health problems for babies, but it is preventable. The best way to protect your baby is to get tested during your pregnancy and get treated if needed.
About Congenital Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium. Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics.
Congenital syphilis happens when a pregnant person passes syphilis to the baby during pregnancy. Congenital syphilis can cause serious health problems for the baby, like being born too early, developmental issues, defects, and even death. The best way to prevent congenital syphilis is to test and treat syphilis as early as possible during pregnancy.
How Congenital Syphilis Spreads
Congenital syphilis spreads from a pregnant person to their baby during pregnancy or birth. This can happen at any time during pregnancy. This only happens if the pregnant person has syphilis and does not get treatment.
Congenital syphilis does not spread from baby to baby or through everyday contact.
Symptoms
Congenital syphilis is very serious for babies. The symptoms depend on when the pregnant person got syphilis and for how long they had syphilis. Congenital syphilis can cause low birth weight, a baby to be born early, losing a baby during pregnancy, a baby born dead, death after birth, bone issues, brain and nerve problems, and severe development problems. Not all babies born with congenital syphilis will have symptoms, but babies can develop problems if they do not get treated.
Learn about the signs and symptoms of syphilis, CDC.
Who's At Risk
Pregnant people have a higher chance of passing congenital syphilis to their baby if they:
- Do not access medical care during their pregnancy.
- Do not get tested for syphilis during their pregnancy.
- Do not get treatment for a syphilis infection during their pregnancy.
- Have a sex partner with untreated syphilis.
- Get syphilis during pregnancy.
- Get treated too late in their pregnancy.
Prevention
Early testing and treatment can help protect you and your baby.
- Get tested for syphilis during pregnancy at the recommended times. Every pregnant person should be tested in early pregnancy, during the 3rd trimester (around 24-28 weeks and no later than 32 weeks), and at the time of delivery.
- Get tested for syphilis if you start getting symptoms of syphilis during your pregnancy.
- Get tested for syphilis if you think you have been exposed.
- Get treated for syphilis if you test positive for syphilis during your pregnancy.
- Ask your partner(s) to get tested and treated before you have sex.
- Use condoms every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Condoms lower your chance of getting syphilis, but they do not protect against sores that are outside the area covered by the condom.
Testing
A blood test is the most common way to test for syphilis.
Get tested for syphilis three times during pregnancy, even if you feel like you do not have syphilis. Even if you tested negative earlier in your pregnancy, you could still get syphilis later. Getting tested at the recommended times helps protect you and your baby.
Ask your health care provider to test you:
- At your first prenatal visit.
- During the third trimester (around 24-28 weeks and no later than 32 weeks).
- At delivery.
Treatment
Syphilis is curable with antibiotics. Pregnant people can only be treated with shots of penicillin. A health care provider will work with pregnant people who are allergic to penicillin.
Treatment depends on how long you have had syphilis. Some people need only one shot of penicillin to be cured. Some people may need to receive a shot of penicillin once a week for 3 weeks to cure the infection. It is important to complete syphilis treatment to be cured and prevent passing syphilis to others and to the baby.
All pregnant people who have symptoms of syphilis or who test positive for syphilis should get treated. A pregnant person must complete treatment at least 30 days before delivery to prevent congenital syphilis.
Congenital syphilis treatment for the baby depends on when the pregnant person got syphilis and whether they were cured. Some babies need to receive antibiotics for 10 to 14 days in the hospital through an IV. Some babies need daily shots of penicillin for 10 to 14 days. Some babies only need 1 shot of penicillin. Some babies do not need treatment.
More Resources
For the Public
Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic Locations
Protect Your Baby - Get Tested for Syphilis (PDF)
Syphilis Facts for People Who Use Drugs (PDF)
For Medical Providers
Congenital Syphilis - Medical Provider Resources