Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus. It progresses through primary, secondary, and tertiary stages. Untreated syphilis in pregnant women greatly increases the risks of fetal and infant death as well as physical and neurological problems in babies. It can cross the placenta at any point and cause enlargement of organs, fluid buildup, and bone and teeth deformities in the fetus. Immediate treatment of both mother and baby is important to prevent long term effects.

1. University of Newcastle
ORHL1001
Teratogen:
SYPHILIS

2. Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is
caused by a bacterium called Treponema Pallidum.
It is transmitted by direct contact with a sore on an infected
person, mainly through vaginal, anal or oral sex. It is also
possible to spread the disease through kissing a person
with a syphilis sore around their lips or in their mouth.
There are three stages of syphilis:
• Primary: (3 weeks after exposure), a painless sore called
chancre appears where the infection occurred.
Surrounding lymph glands may become swollen.
• Secondary: (2 weeks to 2 months) reddish, spotty rash
may develop anywhere around the body. Other
symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, fatigue,
fever, swollen lymph glands and weight loss may occur.
• Tertiary: (1 year to several years later), can lead to
arthritis, cardiovascular syphilis, neurosyphilis and
blindness.

3. Effects on pregnant woman’s
body
Syphilis has many of the same
symptoms and health effects on
pregnant women as for women who
are not pregnant. However having
syphilis will further complicate and
threaten both the pregnancy and
the unborn baby’s health.
It may lead to transplacental
infection, a woman’s water to break
early, premature delivery and
infection in the uterus after giving
birth.

4. Effects on the Health
Development of a Fetus.
Syphilis can travel from a mother’s
bloodstream across the placenta and infect the
fetus anytime during their pregnancy.
Pregnant women infected with syphilis can
receive penicillin treatment to minimize the
risk of passing the infection to the fetus.
Mothers who do not get treated may have a
fetus with an enlarged placenta, fluid in their
abdomen with severe swelling, and a large
spleen or liver. Syphilis can also increase the
risk of intrauterine growth restriction and
preterm birth.

5. • The critical period of exposure is from the first four weeks of development, from
fertilization to the end of the gastrulation stage.
• Mothers infected with the first and second (Primary and Secondary) stages
of Syphilis have a greater risk of transmitting the disease to their baby than
those with the third (Tertiary or Latent) stage of the infection.
The Critical Exposure Period

6. Consequences that disrupt the healthy
development of a baby
About 40 percent of unborn babies of
infected women will die just before birth or
shortly after.
Among infected babies born alive, about
12 percent die.

7. Newborns with syphilis may have
skin sores and rashes, pneumonia,
fever, inflamed limbs, jaundice,
anemia and swollen livers.
Not all newborns display symptoms
but they will soon develop them if
left untreated.
Babies born with syphilis may end
up with more problems years later,
such as bone and teeth
deformities, vision and hearing
loss, and other serious neurological
problems.
Babies born with syphilis need
immediate treatment with penicillin.

8. References
Baby Center Medical Advisory Board. (2013). Syphilis during pregnancy. Retrieved
April 6, 2014 from
http://www.babycenter.com/0_syphilisduringpregnancy_1427386.bc?page=1
Congenital Syphilis - Health - Beliefnet.com. (n.d.). Retrieved on April 5, 2014 from
http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=99946
Facts on syphilis. (2011). Retrieved April 6, 2014 from
http://www.cdc.gov/std/media/factssyph11-28-01.htm
Saunders, W. (1995). Syphilis ( Treponema pallidum). In Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics
(17th ed.). St. Louis, MO.
STD FREE CLINICS, STD INFO. (n.d.). Retrieved on April 6, 2014 from
http://stdfreeclinics.com/SYPHILIS.html/

9. Sexually transmitted infections (STD) fact sheet. (2012). Retrieved April 6, 2014 from
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-
sheet/sexually-transmitted-infections.html#j
STI - Syphilis - Effect on pregnancy. (n.d.). Retrieved on April 6, 2014from
http://www.med.nyu.edu/sti/content1738.html?cid=3&ccid=62&cccid=33
Syphilis – primary. (2014). Retrieved April 6, 2014 from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000861.htm
Teratogenic Causes of Malformations. (n.d.). Retrieved on April 5, 2014 from
http://annclinlabsci.org/content/40/2/99.short/
Understanding syphilis--symptoms. (2013). Retrieved April 6, 2014 from
http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/understanding-syphilis-symptoms