Syphilis and Women's Health in the Northern Territory

Abstract

Untreated primary or secondary syphilis during pregnancy affects virtually 100% of foetuses, with 50% resulting in premature delivery or perinatal death. Untreated early latent syphilis during pregnancy results in a 40% rate of prematurity or perinatal death. Ten per cent of infants born to mothers with untreated late syphilis show signs of congenital infection, and the perinatal death rate is increased approximately tenfold. Whereas syphilis is rarely transmissible sexually longer than one to two years after infection, women with untreated syphilis may remain infectious for their foetuses for a longer period.