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Syphilis, Pediatric

Ibukunoluwa C. Akinboyo, MD, Joseph B. Cantey, MD and Pablo J. Sánchez, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Etiologic agent: Treponema pallidum

  • Can be congenital or acquired

  • Consider sexual abuse when syphilis diagnosed in young children.

  • All confirmed cases should be reported to the local pu...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Congenital syphilis

    • Clinical manifestations range from clinically unapparent to stillbirth (see “Physical Exam”).

  • Acquired syphilis

    • Primary stage: chancre, single or multiple, at the site of in...

TREATMENT

  • Infants with proven or highly probably disease:

    • Infants <28 days of age

      • Aqueous crystalline penicillin G (50,000 U/kg/dose) IV q12h for first 7 days of age and then q8h for a total of 10 da...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Congenital syphilis

    • Careful follow-up examinations and serologic testing (i.e., a nontreponemal test) of infants and children should be performed...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. Syphilis. In: Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, et al, eds. Red Book: 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 30th ed. Elk Grove Vill...

CODES

ICD9

  • 097.9 Syphilis, unspecified

  • 090.9 Congenital syphilis, unspecified

  • 092.9 Early syphilis, latent, unspecified

  • 097.0 Late syphilis, unspecified

  • 097.1 Latent syphilis, unspecified

ICD10

  • A53.9 Syphili...

FAQ

  • Q: What is the prozone phenomenon?

  • A: When a nontreponemal test is falsely negative due to high concentrations of nontreponemal IgG antibody; diluting the serum will result in a positive test resul...

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