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Procedures for In Vitro Cultivation of Treponema pallidum, the Syphilis Spirochete
Published on: January 24, 2025
Acquired secondary syphilis in preschool children by nonsexual close contact
Fu-Quan Long1, Qian-Qiu Wang, Juan Jiang
1Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China.
Insights
Syphilis can spread to children through nonsexual close contact with infected caregivers. This highlights the risk of Treponema pallidum transmission in household settings, even without sexual transmission.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum.
- Nonsexual transmission of syphilis is rare but possible through close contact with infectious lesions.
- Children are a vulnerable population susceptible to infections from close contacts.
Abstract:
Children may acquire syphilis as a consequence of nonsexual close contact if family members or caregivers are infected by active syphilis. We described 3 cases of acquired secondary syphilis in Chinese preschool children who contracted the disease from their caregivers to draw attention to the potential for syphilis patients to transmit Treponema pallidum to the children they are caretakers for.
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