Elimination of Congenital Syphilis

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Abstract
This is a study from Great Britain on the relationship between the incidence of congenital syphilis and the incidence of early acquired syphilis in females since the 1920''s. Peaks were seen in both at the end of the 2 world wars and to a lesser extent during the depression of the 30''s. During the past 40 years the incidence of early congenital syphilis has followed that of early acquired syphilis in females. During the last few years, the numbers of cases of early congenital syphilis has reached unprecedentedly low levels. Congenital syphilis will continue to occur as long as early syphilis is endemic in the child-bearing population. With the passage of time however syphilis spontaneously becomes non-infectious, although a woman may often remain capable of infecting the fetus long after she has become non-infectious for her sexual partner. If a new generation reaches the age of parenthood free of acquired infection, then congenital syphilis will no longer occur. The author feels that England may now be approaching this happy state for the first time. The author recommends that routine serologic testing of expectant mothers should be maintained for some years to come but points out that congenital syphilis cannot be eliminated by such testing as it has been shown that slip-ups occur.

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