Congenital syphilis cases reported in Vietnam infants

Medical facilities in Vietnam are reporting an increase in cases of congenital syphilis among infants, highlighting a critical need for improved maternal screening.

At Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital, a two-month-old girl was successfully treated after presenting with red rashes, skin peeling on her palms and soles, and nasal congestion. The condition was initially mistaken for common skin ailments like eczema or allergies. The child's mother had tested positive for syphilis after childbirth but had not received treatment during pregnancy.

Similarly, the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology has noted a rise in inpatient admissions for congenital syphilis. One recent case involved a two-month-old infant with fever and skin lesions that failed to respond to previous dermatitis treatments. In this instance, the mother had not undergone syphilis screening or treatment during her pregnancy.

Medical experts warn that congenital syphilis, caused by the transmission of Treponema pallidum from mother to child, can lead to severe complications including damage to the brain, eyes, bones, and liver, or even stillbirth and neonatal death. Doctors emphasize that the condition is entirely preventable through routine prenatal testing and timely treatment of infected mothers.