Syphilis

      Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. Congenital Syphilis can occur in children whose mothers had syphilis during pregnancy. It can be completely cured if detected and treated early.

      Syphilis has shown an increase in recent years, especially in Eastern Europe. It is closely related to a declining health population  due to social, economic and politic factors, including drug and alcohol use.

      In Russia, pregnant women who receive prenatal care are routinely tested for syphilis. If no prenatal care was obtained or the mother was not available after the child's birth, the babies are usually treated as if the mother did indeed have syphilis.

     Once home, the adopted children should be retested for syphilis. Occasionally there will be some children who test positive and require more treatment. Labwork for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV should also be redone and vision and hearing checked. Exposure to congenital syphilis is only a small concern. It is easily diagnosed and treated . Adequate treatment is almost always achieved.

Cindy Sundman, RN, BSN