Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infection

Congenital syphilis (CS), a common but forgotten disease has a broad spectrum of clinical presentation. Vertical transmission of this spirochaetal infection from the pregnant mother to the foetus can result in varied manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to life- threatening conditions...

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Main Authors: Anusha Hegde, Ranjini Srinivasan, Chitra Dinakar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2023-01-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15498
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author Anusha Hegde
Ranjini Srinivasan
Chitra Dinakar
author_facet Anusha Hegde
Ranjini Srinivasan
Chitra Dinakar
author_sort Anusha Hegde
collection DOAJ
description Congenital syphilis (CS), a common but forgotten disease has a broad spectrum of clinical presentation. Vertical transmission of this spirochaetal infection from the pregnant mother to the foetus can result in varied manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to life- threatening conditions in the form of stillbirth and neonatal death. The haematological and visceral manifestations of this disease can closely mimic various conditions including haemolytic anaemia and malignancies. Congenital syphilis should be considered as a differential in any infant presenting with hepatosplenomegaly and haematological abnormalities even if the antenatal screen was negative. We report a 6-month-old infant with congenital syphilis presenting with organomegaly, bicytopenia and monocytosis. A strong index of suspicion and early diagnosis is the key to the good outcome as treatment is simple and cost- effective.
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publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
record_format Article
series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-fd1d227a8aa843ba8b35dec13b9cd6702025-08-20T02:16:14ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802023-01-01170110.3855/jidc.15498Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infectionAnusha Hegde0Ranjini Srinivasan1Chitra Dinakar2Department of Pediatrics, St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Johnnagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Pediatrics, St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Johnnagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Pediatrics, St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Johnnagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Congenital syphilis (CS), a common but forgotten disease has a broad spectrum of clinical presentation. Vertical transmission of this spirochaetal infection from the pregnant mother to the foetus can result in varied manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to life- threatening conditions in the form of stillbirth and neonatal death. The haematological and visceral manifestations of this disease can closely mimic various conditions including haemolytic anaemia and malignancies. Congenital syphilis should be considered as a differential in any infant presenting with hepatosplenomegaly and haematological abnormalities even if the antenatal screen was negative. We report a 6-month-old infant with congenital syphilis presenting with organomegaly, bicytopenia and monocytosis. A strong index of suspicion and early diagnosis is the key to the good outcome as treatment is simple and cost- effective. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15498Congenital syphilismonocytosisanemiathrombocytopenia
spellingShingle Anusha Hegde
Ranjini Srinivasan
Chitra Dinakar
Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infection
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Congenital syphilis
monocytosis
anemia
thrombocytopenia
title Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infection
title_full Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infection
title_fullStr Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infection
title_full_unstemmed Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infection
title_short Congenital syphilis: a rare presentation of a forgotten infection
title_sort congenital syphilis a rare presentation of a forgotten infection
topic Congenital syphilis
monocytosis
anemia
thrombocytopenia
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15498
work_keys_str_mv AT anushahegde congenitalsyphilisararepresentationofaforgotteninfection
AT ranjinisrinivasan congenitalsyphilisararepresentationofaforgotteninfection
AT chitradinakar congenitalsyphilisararepresentationofaforgotteninfection