Prenatal Syphilis Exposure Linked to Higher Hospitalization Risk in Children: JAMA

Of the 82,86,867 singleton newborns in the research, 30,039 had maternal syphilis exposure, and 36,443 had congenital syphilis. Black, unmarried, and less educated women were more likely to give birth in an exposed manner. those with congenital syphilis and those exposed to maternal syphilis were more likely to be hospitalized for the first time than those without exposure.

Congenital syphilis patients had the highest likelihood of their initial hospitalization within the first month of life. Up until the age of 36 months, children exposed to syphilis had greater hospitalization rates than the non-exposed group, despite the fact that the risk reduced with age.

Additionally, hospital stays for live-born infants exposed to syphilis during pregnancy were longer and more frequent. When compared to the non-exposed group and those with maternal syphilis, those with congenital syphilis had a decreased rate of respiratory and digestive diagnoses.

Overall, the live-born children exposed to syphilis during pregnancy, including those who were exposed but did not have congenital syphilis identified at birth, had a consistently higher risk of hospitalization and longer hospital stays during their first five years of life. This study emphasizes how important it is to closely monitor and follow up with children who have been exposed.

Source:

Paixão, E. S., Carroll, O., Rodrigues, L. C., de Oliveira, G. L., Cardoso, A. M., de Cássia Ribeiro-Silva, R., Barreto, M. L., & Ichihara, M. Y. (2025). Syphilis exposure during pregnancy and childhood hospital admissions in Brazil. JAMA Network Open, 8(4), e257471. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.7471