Congenital Syphilis Diagnosed Later in Infancy

Reported cases of congenital syphilis (CS) in the U.S. have increased dramatically in recent years. In this study, researchers reviewed data on all 3834 infants delivered between 2014 and 2018 and reported to the CDC with CS. Eighty-four infants (2%) were diagnosed with CS after the identified neonatal period (beyond age 28 days); the analysis focused on 67 symptomatic infants and their mothers.

The median age of the infants at diagnosis with CS was 67 days. Twenty-one (31%) were diagnosed after 90 days, and four (6%) were diagnosed after 6 months. The most common physical findings were rash (42%), snuffles (16%), and hepatosplenomegaly (13%). Among the infants who had radiographs performed, 38 of 55 (69%) had long bone abnormalities consist…