Treatment of congenital syphilis World Health Organization Guidelines for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections April 2001

All children born to mothers who were sero- positive during pregnancy: A single intramuscular dose of benzathine benzylpenicillin 50,000 IU/kg

Treatment for early congenital syphilis: Symptomatic infants Asymptomatic infants with abnormal cerebrospinal fluid

Alternative treatment regimes, early congenital syphilis: Aqueous benzyl penicillin ,000 IU/kg intravenously, 50,000 IU/kg/dose every 12 hours the first 7 days, every 8 hours thereafter for a total of 10 days Procaine benzyl penicillin 50,000 IU/kg intramuscularly as a single daily dose for 10 days

Note: Some experts treat all infants with congenital syphilis as if the cerebrospinal fluid findings were abnormal Antibiotics other than penicillin are not indicated for congenital syphilis except in cases of severe allergy to penicillin

Congenital syphilis of more than 2 years’ duration: Aqeous benzylpenicillin IU/kg/day by intravenous or intramuscular injection, administered as 50,000 IU/kg every 4-6 hours for days.

Alternative regimen for penicillin- allergic patients, after the first month of life: Erythromycin 7,5-12,5/kg orally, 4 times daily for 30 days