Data just published online shows a worrying increase in infectious syphilis cases in women living in Australia aged 15–44 (referred to as "reproductive age") and a subsequent rise in transmission from pregnant parent to child. This is called congenital syphilis.
Congenital syphilis is easily prevented through timely testing and treatment of syphilis during pregnancy. Left untreated, congenital syphilis can have devastating outcomes in more than 50% of cases including miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and permanent disability.
