(StatePoint) Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can spread to a fetus during pregnancy or a newborn during labor. When this happens, it is known as congenital syphilis and can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death or medical issues for the baby, including deafness, blindness, bone deformities and meningitis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, congenital syphilis has tripled in recent years, with more than 3,800 cases reported nationwide in 2023 alone. This is the highest number reported in one year since 1994.

“While serious, congenital syphilis is preventable through timely screenings before and during pregnancy,” says Margaret Ikeda, MD, MS, FAAP, board-certified pediatrician, Yale University School of Medicine, and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Infectious Diseases.

To help pregnant women protect their babies, the AAP is sharing some vital information:

Steps to Take During Pregnancy: Testing and treatment can help protect your baby. The AAP recommends all pregnant women be tested for syphilis during early pregnancy and that high-risk pregnant women be tested again during the third trimester and at delivery.

If you are diagnosed with syphilis, it is important to receive treatment right away. This should be followed by repeat blood tests to make sure the treatment worked. Since you can be infected at any time during pregnancy, your doctor may do the test more than once.

Steps to Take After Birth: Newborn babies can also be tested and treated for congenital syphilis. As soon as infection is detected, babies should be treated with antibiotics. After the first treatment, babies will have repeated blood tests over several months to make sure the infection is gone, and occasionally, will need to be treated again.

Signs and Symptoms to be Aware of: The first stage of acquired syphilis can appear as a painless sore on the genitals a few weeks after exposure, however it often goes unnoticed. Unless treated, the infection can spread throughout the body. Symptoms at this stage can include skin rash, swollen glands, fever, headache, joint aches and fatigue, and can last for months or even come back later if not treated. However, it’s important to understand that you can be infected with syphilis but not feel sick or have any symptoms at all, which is still dangerous for the baby. That’s one reason why testing is so important.

Resources to Lean on: The AAP offers comprehensive resources to help ensure pregnant women get needed testing and treatment for themselves and their newborns. Visit https://www.aap.org/congenitalsyphillis to learn more.

“The best thing you can do to protect your baby is to have syphilis blood testing as soon as you discover you are pregnant and throughout pregnancy. If you are diagnosed with the infection, get treatment as soon as possible,” says Yarlini Vipulanandan, MD, Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellow at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and post-residency training member of the AAP.

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