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A recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows maternal syphilis infections rose 28% from 2022 to 2024, continuing a decade-long upward trend. The main risk of untreated syphilis during pregnancy is that you can pass a syphilis infection to a baby, said Amber Samuel, M.D., a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Obstetrix® Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists of Houston, part of Pediatrix® Medical Group. This can have serious impacts, including stillbirth, miscarriage, growth impairment and preterm birth, said Dr. Samuel. Syphilis infections can also lead to life-threatening disease in children. “Children can suffer from rashes, hemorrhagic rhinitis (runny nose), lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes), hepatosplenomegaly (swelling of the liver), skeletal abnormalities, anemia, and meningitis (infection of the brain tissue),” explained Dr. Samuel.
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