Late congenital syphilis

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]

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