You can pass syphilis on to your unborn child or to your baby during childbirth. Doctors call this congenital syphilis. If left untreated, there is a high risk of stillbirth and infant death.
Most babies born with syphilis have no symptoms. Some may have a rash on the palms of their hands or the soles of their feet. Eventually, babies can develop complications of many organs including:
See your child’s pediatrician right away if she develops an unusual discharge, sore, or rash near her groin.
Enlarged liver
Jaundice
Discharge from nose
Swollen glands
Bone abnormalities
Brain (neurological) problems