[Syphilis and pregnancy]

Abstract

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease responsible for a congenital severe infection. Congenital syphilis is complicated by fetal loss/neonatal death (50%), prematurity (25%) and major long term sequelae in other surviving children (20%). Every woman delivering a stillborn after 20WG should be tested for syphilis. Early screening is the cornerstone of prevention, and should be repeated in women at higher risk of contamination. Maternal management relies on early benzathine penicillin administration. Neonatal management relies on early diagnosis and prompt adequate penicillin therapy.