Congenital syphilis: A laid ghost walks

After 6 years, when no example of florid congenital syphilis was seen in a hospital service with 10,000 live births annually, 7 babies with congenital syphilis were admitted within a year. This experience undoubtedly reflects an increased incidence of acquired syphilis in this area. Since several “generations” of pediatric residents had never seen florid congenital syphilis, this entity was not considered in the differential diagnosis at admission. With the use of case protocols of some of these infants, the common problems presented by infantile congenital syphilis are discussed.