congenital syphilis [L, congenitus, born with; Gk, syn, together, philein, to love] , a form of syphilis acquired in utero, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Nearly 50% of infected infants die shortly before or after birth. It is generally characterized by osteitis, rashes, coryza, and wasting in the first months of life. Later childhood signs of the infection include interstitial keratitis, deafness, and notches in the incisor teeth (called Hutchinson’s teeth). Some infected infants may appear disease-free at birth, but typical signs of the disease develop in adolescence. Infants are treated with penicillin; all infected infants require an ophthalmic examination. If untreated, the infection may cause deafness, blindness, disability, or death. See also syphilis.
