2 May 2025 • A massive cohort study tracking over 8 million births highlights the elevated hospitalization risks in children exposed to syphilis during pregnancy, regardless of whether they had congenital syphilis.

Key Findings:

• Children with congenital syphilis faced a striking 11.53-fold higher risk of hospitalization in the first month of life, with risk remaining elevated until age 3.

• Congenital syphilis was linked to nearly 6 times higher risk of hospitalization.

• Exposure to maternal syphilis was associated with a 1.90-fold increased risk (HR 1.90).

• Exposed children had more frequent and longer hospital stays, with respiratory and digestive conditions being more common in the maternal syphilis and nonexposed groups.

These findings emphasize the long-term impact of syphilis exposure in utero and reinforce the urgent need to prevent maternal infections and closely monitor exposed infants.

Source: JAMA Network | Read Full Story