Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant woman with syphilis passes the infection to her child during pregnancy and/or delivery and can cause serious problems like premature and low birth weight infants, deformities and stillbirths.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is important to get routine prenatal care and make syphilis testing a part of it. If you test positive for syphilis, you can be cured, even when you are pregnant. Proper treatment for syphilis during pregnancy will help prevent your baby from becoming infected.

CDPH offers free syphilis testing and treatment at the STI Specialty Clinics.

NEWS
Congenital Syphilis Update for Illinois Health Care providers
Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Congenital Syphilis Press Release

HEALTH INFORMATION FOR INDIVIDUALS
CDC STDs and Pregnancy Fact Sheet
CDC Syphilis Fact Sheet
CDPH STI Specialty Clinics

CONGENITAL SYPHILIS PREVENTION AND CONTROL
World Health Organization (WHO) – Eliminating Congenital Syphilis
National Recommendations for Partner Services Programs for HIV Infection, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydial Infection
CDC STD Program Operations Guidelines – Partner Services - PDF

DATA AND SURVEILLANCE
2015 CDPH HIV/STI Surveillance Report - PDF
2014 CDC STD Surveillance Report - PDF
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) – Increase in Incidence in Congenital Syphilis – United States, 2010 – 2014