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What happens when a child with congenital syphilis grows up?

Nov 29, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Introduction
After growing up, children with congenital syphilis may experience residual problems such as skin and mucous membrane lesions, abnormal skeletal development, impaired eye health, hearing dysfunction, and neurological effects. If not properly treated in time, some children with congenital syphilis may develop skin scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmented patches later in life, and mucosal sites such as the oral and nasal mucosa may suffer from recurrent inflammation.

In general, children with congenital syphilis may develop long-term complications as they grow up, including skin and mucous membrane issues, skeletal developmental abnormalities, eye health damage, hearing impairment, and neurological effects. The details are as follows:

1. Skin and mucous membrane complications: If children with congenital syphilis do not receive timely and proper treatment, they may develop scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmented patches on the skin as adults. Mucosal areas such as the oral cavity and nasal mucosa may suffer recurrent inflammation, affecting appearance and normal mucosal function.

2. Skeletal developmental abnormalities: The *Treponema pallidum* bacterium can impair bone development. As these children grow, skeletal deformities such as anterior bowing of the tibia (saber shins) or joint deformities may occur. These not only affect limb appearance but can also restrict motor function and interfere with daily activities.

3. Eye health damage: Congenital syphilis may involve the eyes. Affected children may develop ocular diseases such as keratitis or uveitis later in life. In severe cases, this can lead to vision loss or even blindness, causing long-term visual impairment.

4. Hearing impairment: When *Treponema pallidum* invades the auditory system, it may result in hearing loss or even complete deafness in adulthood. This can significantly affect language acquisition and daily communication, leading to various challenges in life.

5. Neurological effects: If the nervous system is involved in congenital syphilis, affected individuals may experience intellectual developmental delay, epileptic seizures, or neuropsychiatric disorders as they grow older. These conditions can impair cognitive function and the ability to perform daily living activities independently.

Pregnant women should undergo routine syphilis screening during pregnancy. If infection is detected, prompt and standardized treatment is essential to prevent fetal transmission. Infants diagnosed with congenital syphilis must receive early,正规 anti-syphilis therapy and regular follow-up evaluations. Throughout development, close attention should be paid to the child’s skin, skeletal, visual, auditory, and neurological development, with timely medical intervention if any abnormalities are detected.

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