Mommy's Info Dose

In China, there is a baby born with syphilis every hour. Researchers said that this alarming health crisis is a result of the country’s rapid economic growth. Apparently, the booming economy of the country provides businessmen and migrant workers with more money and overwhelming opportunities to hire prostitutes and engage in unsafe sex. STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) like Syphilis were once very uncommon in China, especially in the 1950s. However, the rapid economic development eventually propelled the epidemic spread of the condition. This commentary was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Syphilis and Babies Babies who have congenital syphilis may not exhibit signs of the disease the moment they are born. However, the typical symptoms include low birth weight, skin rashes or small sores, yellowish skin (jaundice), a bloody nose, and swollen arms and legs. If left untreated, the baby may suffer from pneumonia, anemia, brain seizures, and delayed mental and phys...