The damage may be serious enough to cause death. Syphilis during pregnancy affects unborn babies and newborns. A baby who survives may be born with syphilis. This is called congenital syphilis. Some babies with congenital syphilis have no symptoms at birth but develop them in a few weeks if not treated immediately.
Untreated babies can develop mental retardation or have seizures.
Syphilis bacteria can be detected by examining material from infectious sores under a microscope. A safe, accurate, and inexpensive blood test is also available. The test can detect syphilis antibodies produced by the body shortly after infection occurs. A low level of antibodies will stay in the blood for months or years after the disease has been treated and can be found by later blood tests. Anyone is at risk for syphilis during sexual contact with an infected person or a person whose syphilis status is not known.