Acquired syphilis with flat condyloma in a 3 year-old girl: A case report

The incidence of syphilis in young children is very low, with acquired syphilis exceptionally rare. A 3 year-old girl presented to our service with a reddish-brown rash on the external genitals and perianal area. The rash had been apparent for a period of 1 week. The girl was asymptomatic and had no history of sexual contact. Syphilis was suspected and the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination test (TPPA) was found to be positive, as well as the rapid plasma regin ring card test (RPR), with a titer of 1:64. The girl was diagnosed with toddler acquired secondary syphilis. The girl was cured after three treatments with penicillin. This report points out the need for clinicians to be aware of nonsexually transmitted syphilis, acquired in daily life by children without a history of sexual contact.