Summary
Congenital syphilis occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy or at birth.
For the first time since 2004, congenital syphilis has re-emerged in Victoria. Left untreated, congenital syphilis can lead to premature delivery, long term neurological problems, bone deformities, deafness and fetal death (stillbirth). Mid-trimester spontaneous miscarriage is the most common outcome of syphilis in pregnancy. This factsheet contains important information about congenital syphilis for women and their partners.