Congenital Syphilis Presenting with a Generalized Bullous and Pustular Eruption in a Premature Newborn

ABSTRACT

Congenital syphilis occurs when Treponema pallidum crosses the placenta during pregnancy or from contact with an infectious genital lesion during delivery. Cutaneous manifestations of congenital syphilis are relatively common, occurring in approximately 30% to 70% of patients. Maculopapular lesions, vesiculobullous lesions, condylomata lata lesions, annular lesions, and erythema multiforme-like targetoid lesions have been reported. We report on a premature newborn with congenital syphilis who presented with generalized bullous and pustular eruption and desquamation at birth.