A pregnant teenager has arrived at a free clinic seeking care. She has had no prenatal care and is currently 27 weeks' gestation. Upon testing for a sexually transmitted disease (STD), it is found that she has active T. pallidum (syphilis). Given the fact that she has active syphilis at this stage in her pregnancy, it is very likely her fetus is at risk for: Select all that apply.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

There is rapid transplacental transmission of the organism from the mother to the fetus after 16 weeks' gestation, so that active infection in the mother during pregnancy can produce congenital syphilis in the fetus. Untreated syphilis can cause prematurity, stillbirth, and congenital defects and active infection in the infant. Unstable blood glucose levels can occur with diabetic mothers, and many infants have some acrocyanosis immediately following birth. Blindness from syphilis can occur decades after initial infection, so it would not be present at birth.

A Pregnant Teenager Has Arrived at a Free Clinic Seeking