Toddler Gets Syphilis

[phoenixx]

I can't believe no one has talked about this story yet:

Preschooler Contracts Syphilis, Officials Say - News Story - WCVB Boston

[lynnzop[$]]

I hadn't heard about it yet, Leslie.

Skin to skin contact? Has it mutated? I didn't think that was possible?

[hadassahchana[$]]

How do people contract syphilis?

The syphilis bacterium is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores mainly occur on the external genitalia, vagina, anus, or rectum. Sores can also occur on the lips and in the mouth. Transmission of the organism occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Pregnant women with the disease can pass it to the babies they are carrying. An infected pregnant woman has about a 40% chance of having a stillbirth (syphilitic stillbirth) or delivering a baby who dies shortly after birth. About 12% of infected newborns will die because of the disease.

From a syphilis fact sheet. Isn't this the one which presents with chancres which can spread the bacteria? I think that's what I remember from becoming a midwife.

[theworm[$]]

I knew that was true for herpes, but never thought about it with syphillis. Glad they diagnosed and cleared it up quickly!

[jgibson2[$]]

People with secondary syphilis can have sores on fairly large parts of the body -- including the palms of the hands. Most likely, this occurred because one of the daycare workers had secondary syphilis and one of the kids came into contact with the lesions. They should test and/or prophylactically treat ALL the kids.