[Congenital syphilis as an imported disease].

Two infants, a two-month-old boy and a two-month-old girl adopted from Sri Lanka, were diagnosed as having congenital syphilis and treated accordingly. The girl presented with only skin symptoms and a developing pseudoparalysis of Parrot. The boy was in quite a bad condition, having rhinitis, an oedematous appearance, skin symptoms, severe anaemia and hepatosplenomegaly. In both patients serological blood tests and cerebrospinal fluid tests for lues were positive. Both children showed osteochondritis and periostitis of the long bones on X-rays. This disease is rare in the Netherlands, but it is important to diagnose it early, because early adequate treatment may result in complete cure.