If a child gets syphilis during pregnancy or childbirth, it is called congenital syphilis. Symptoms are not evident at birth.

1. Constant runny nose.
2. The skin breaks down.
3. Bones become abnormal and problems occur in the skeletal system.
4. Eye, liver and kidney problems.
5. Tooth decay occurs.
6. Can cause blindness and deafness.

1. A syphilitic lesion develops on the skin within 21 days of infection. It is called Canker.
2. The lesions enlarge and look like red blisters or sores. It is called Chancre.
3. Germs spread throughout the body and small rashes appear.
4. The rash spreads over the chest, arms, legs, hands and soles of the feet.
5. The red spots are scaly and do not itch.
6. The patient has mild fever, headache and fatigue.
7. Swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, weight loss and hair loss.
8. Meningitis occurs in the brain.
9. Blood cells, liver and joints are damaged and anemia and jaundice occur.
10. Lesions occur on the lips, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, trachea, and anus.
11. Complications occur in the eyes, brain, heart and nervous system.
12. A strange large lesion or sore is seen on the head of the penis.
13. The patient succumbs to blindness, paralysis, stupor and restlessness.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. The disease spreads through sexual intercourse between men and women. Vaginal, oral, and anal sex causes erogenous transmission from one body to another. The disease is spread through the blood, wounds or kisses of an infected person. Syphilis can be spread by sharing the patient’s toilet, bathtub, clothing, food, and swimming pool. Children of infected mothers get syphilis. Symptoms appear within 21 days. However, individuals may develop symptoms within 10-90 days.

Syphilis is the leading sexually transmitted disease in the world. Syphilis was named after the Italian physician and poet Girolamo Fracastoro, the protagonist of one of his poems, Syphilis. It is believed that the god Apollo himself punished his followers with syphilis and eroge for blaspheming religion and God. The disease came to Europe through the sailors of Columbus after the discovery of America. The disease spread worldwide during World War II. The number of patients suffering from eros is about 45.5 million in the world. In Bangladesh, erosive prevalence is higher in urban than rural areas.

Cause of the disease: Syphilis is caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum.

Diseases that are spread from one person to another during sexual intercourse are called sexually transmitted diseases or STD or VD (venereal disease). Sexually transmitted diseases in many cases are not manifested, they are simply transmitted. So they are called (sexually transmitted infections-STI). The branch of medical science that deals with sexually transmitted diseases is called venereology.

All the environmental causes that cause limb loss or deformity in children are called teratogens. Disadvantages of teratogens are-

(i) Intra-uterine growth restriction: Premature birth due to maternal malnutrition or lack of oxygen.

(ii) Macrosomia : In this disease the child is overweight and large in size. It is called big baby syndrome.

(iii) Smoking: The growth of the baby in the womb of a smoking mother is disturbed.

(iv) Alcohol consumption: Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in the baby if the mother drinks alcohol.

(v) Food intake: Lack of nutritious food impairs fetal growth.

(vi) Mental condition: The mother’s mental condition needs to be good for the healthy development of the child.

Trisomy disorder is Down syndrome. It causes complications in the child’s eyes, face and cheeks.

Genetic and chromosomal disorders are-

(i) Autosomal disorders: Autosomal recessive genetic disorders are phenylketonuria and dominant genetic disorders are Huntington’s disease. Children with phenylketonuria cannot digest phenylalanine. Huntington’s disorder causes mental and neurological impairment in children.

(ii) Sex Linked Disorders: Sex linked disorders are red-green color blindness, hemophilia, fragile X syndrome, autism etc.

(iii) Trisomy: Trisomy disorder is Down syndrome. It causes complications in the child’s eyes, face and cheeks.

Any type of abnormality in the growth of the baby in the mother’s womb is called a fetal growth problem. Fetal growth is considered a problem if the newborn weighs 6.2-9.2 pounds and is less than or more than 19-21 inches tall, or if it lands before 37 weeks of gestation. The problems can be divided into two categories.Genetic and chromosomal problems and Problems with teratogens.

Any type of abnormality in the growth of the baby in the mother’s womb is called a fetal growth problem. Fetal growth is considered a problem if the newborn weighs 6.2-9.2 pounds and is less than or more than 19-21 inches tall, or if it lands before 37 weeks of gestation. The problems can be divided into two categories.Genetic and chromosomal problems and Problems with teratogens.

1. Genetic and chromosomal problems: Genetic and chromosomal disorders are-

(i) Autosomal disorders: Autosomal recessive genetic disorders are phenylketonuria and dominant genetic disorders are Huntington’s disease. Children with phenylketonuria cannot digest phenylalanine. Huntington’s disorder causes mental and neurological impairment in children.

(ii) Sex Linked Disorders: Sex linked disorders are red-green color blindness, hemophilia, fragile X syndrome, autism etc.

(iii) Trisomy: Trisomy disorder is Down syndrome. It causes complications in the child’s eyes, face and cheeks.

2. Problems due to teratogens: All the environmental causes that cause limb loss or deformity in children are called teratogens. Disadvantages of teratogens are-

(i) Intra-uterine growth restriction: Premature birth due to maternal malnutrition or lack of oxygen.

(ii) Macrosomia : In this disease the child is overweight and large in size. It is called big baby syndrome.

(iii) Smoking: The growth of the baby in the womb of a smoking mother is disturbed.

(iv) Alcohol consumption: Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in the baby if the mother drinks alcohol.

(v) Food intake: Lack of nutritious food impairs fetal growth.

(vi) Mental condition: The mother’s mental condition needs to be good for the healthy development of the child.