The diagnosis and management of maternal and congenital syphilis.

A clinical update is presented regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of maternal and congenital syphilis. Syphilis is reemerging as an endemic disease among minority heterosexual populations of the United States; the widespread use of crack cocaine has been identified as a major contributing factor. The dramatic nationwide increase of primary and secondary syphilis in women has precipitated a dramatic rise in congenital syphilis. The key to prevention of syphilitic stillbirths and congenitally infected infants is early diagnosis and treatment of syphilis in infected pregnant women.