Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2014 Apr;21(1):65-70.

Congenital Syphilis: An Uncommon Cause of Gross Hematuria, Skin Rash, and Pneumonia

• Shim SH
• Kim JY
• Lee EK
• Bang K
• Cho KS
• Lee J
• Suh JS
• Bin JH
• Kim HH
• Lee WB

Abstract

Although congenital syphilis can be prevented with prenatal screening, the disease remains problematic. Currently, there are no cases that describe hematuria and pneumonia related to congenital syphilis. We report a case of congenital syphilis that involved nephrotic syndrome and pneumonia alba in a 22-day-old male infant whose mother did not receive adequate prenatal care. The congenital syphilis diagnosis was confirmed with a serologic test and the patient recovered with penicillin treatment. Clinical findings may be subtle in neonates and delayed recognition occurs frequently, thus complete prenatal screening is critical for congenital syphilis prevention. Immediate serologic testing should be performed to obtain a differential diagnosis if an infant is delivered by a mother that has not received appropriate prenatal examinations.

Keyword

Congenital syphilis; Nephrotic syndrome; Pneumonia; Hematuria

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Exanthema*
Hematuria*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Mothers
Nephrotic Syndrome
Penicillins
Pneumonia*
Prenatal Care
Prenatal Diagnosis
Serologic Tests
Syphilis, Congenital*
Penicillins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 On admission multiple ulcerative papules with crust and desquamation on the right eyelid and palm and erythematous macules and papules on the right sole were identified in addition to ulcerative papules and vesicles on the scrotum.

• 

  Fig. 2 Chest radiographic findings indicated diffuse multiple nodular lesions that spread out from both hila, mostly distributed on the base of the lung.

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