Congenital Syphilis

Why It Matters

Preventing congenital syphilis protects newborn health and curtails rising health‑care costs, making routine prenatal screening a critical public‑health priority.

Key Takeaways

• Congenital syphilis cases rose nearly fourfold since 2020.
• Routine prenatal testing at multiple stages prevents infant infection.
• Antibiotic injections safely treat both mother and baby.
• Partner testing essential to avoid reinfection and protect newborn.
• Free or low‑cost testing available at clinics and online.

Summary

The video spotlights a surge in congenital syphilis, warning that cases in Baltimore have jumped almost four‑fold since 2020. It frames prenatal testing as the primary defense against a disease many assume is extinct.

Syphilis, a bacterial infection transmitted through any sexual contact, often shows no symptoms yet can linger for years, damaging organs, hearing, vision, and the brain. If untreated during pregnancy, the pathogen crosses the placenta, leading to skin, bone, blood, and organ complications in newborns, or even stillbirth. Health officials recommend testing at the first prenatal visit, again at 28 weeks, at delivery, and after any possible exposure.

The dialogue underscores that a simple blood draw and a series of intramuscular antibiotic injections can cure both mother and child. It also stresses partner testing, noting that untreated partners can re‑infect cured mothers, jeopardizing the infant’s health.

These facts signal a public‑health imperative: expand free testing, educate expectant parents, and ensure timely treatment. Reducing congenital syphilis will lower neonatal morbidity, health‑care costs, and long‑term disability.

Original Description

Syphilis bacteria can live in the body for years without presenting any symptoms of disease. When a baby is born with syphilis, it’s called congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis is preventable and treatable. Learn more in this video created by Elise Butler, a graduate student in the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. #syphilis #johnshopkinsmedicine #johnshopkins #congenitalsyphilis