I am in China. My wife’s cousin married a girl from rural China recently. He is about 24, she is about 22.
The cousin’s wife has become pregnant. A recent medical exam and blood test revealed latent syphilis in the wife. I do not know if latent syphilis means she had syphilis at one time and has been cured through medicine or it means that the wife inherited it from before birth.
The doctor told my cousin’s wife that there is a 20% chance she will pass it along to her child, I assume the latent kind not live syphilis.
What is latent syphilis? Will the child really contract it in the womb?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease as well as a disease which can be passed from an infected women to her fetus.
Syphilis has four major stages, primary which usually presents with a chancer, which goes away without treatment but still remains in the body. Secondary syphilis might present with unusual symptoms, which is why syphilis was termed ‘the great imitator’.
Latent syphilis is usually one in which the bacteria is causing damage to the body but may not exhibit any symptoms. Some individuals who have been treated for syphilis might be mistaken for having latent syphilis, however, various blood tests can help make ascertain if it has been treated.
The fourth stage of syphilis is where damage to the joints of the body, heart and brain become pronounced and noticeable.And can result in death.
If one has any concerns that they might have syphilis regardless of the stage they should be checked by a qualified infectious disease doctor.
Unfortunately, the incidence of Syphilis is on the rise as individuals have become more sexually active and decreased their use of condoms. If you are a women please remember that the birth control pill only prevents pregnancy and does not protect one against sexually transmitted diseases.
Please contact your doctor and get his/her opinion on the course of treatment.
Sincerely,
Madhup Joshi, MD