As syphilis cases among newborns surge in the U.S., a doctors group, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), recommends enhancing screening during pregnancy for this sexually transmitted disease, which can lead to severe health complications if not treated.
Syphilis gets sexually transmitted through syphilis sores during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It can also spread from an infected mother to her unborn child through the placenta, causing congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis can lead to miscarriage, low birth weight, and health issues such as cataracts, deafness, seizures, and damage to the heart, and can be life-threatening.
