Complications related to the inadequate treatment of gestational syphilis for fetal development: a literature review

Abstract

The review identifies gestational syphilis as a global public-health problem linked to more than 300,000 fetal and neonatal deaths each year. It outlines the clinical stages of the disease and the associated maternal neurological and cardiac complications, and shows that absent or inadequate treatment results in severe malformations—such as saber shin, Hutchinson’s teeth, hydrocephalus, and deafness. In Latin America, up to 344,000 cases of congenital syphilis are estimated annually, and in Brazil the incidence among pregnant women has risen alarmingly over the past five years. Aiming to describe the factors that lead to insufficient management and their impact on fetal development, the study conducted a bibliographic review (2014-2024) using BVS, SciELO, PubMed, and Brazilian Ministry of Health documents, selecting 15 articles. The findings reveal systemic shortcomings—including family refusal, lack of therapeutic knowledge, diagnostic delays, and poor communication between professionals and patients—resulting in spontaneous abortion, prematurity, malformations, cognitive impairment, and perinatal death. The review underscores the role of nursing in screening, health education, patient support, and adherence to penicillin therapy, concluding that early diagnosis, educational interventions, and a multidisciplinary approach are essential to reducing the burden of congenital syphilis.