Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Late congenital syphili
Introduction
Late congenital syphilis is a subset of cases of congenital syphilis. By definition, it occurs in children at or greater that 2 years of age who acquired the infection trans-placentally.
Symptoms include[1]
- blunted upper incisor teeth known as Hutchinson’s teeth
- inflammation of the cornea known as interstitial keratitis
- deafness from auditory nerve disease
- frontal bossing (prominence of the brow ridge)
- saddle nose (collapse of the bony part of nose)
- hard pallet defect
- swollen knees
- saber shins
- short maxillae
- protruding mandible
A frequently-found group of symptoms is Hutchinson’s triad, which consists of Hutchinson’s teeth (notched incisors), keratitis and deafness and occurs in 63% of cases.[1]
Treatment (with penicillin) before the development of late symptoms is essential. [2]