What causes congenital syphilis?

Congenital syphilis occurs when the Treponema pallidum bacterium, which causes syphilis, is transmitted from an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy. This transplacental transmission is a result of the mother's spirochetemia, a condition where the spirochete bacteria are present in her bloodstream. If the mother is infected with syphilis during pregnancy, the risk of passing the infection to the fetus is significant, particularly if the infection is not treated.

The correct understanding here is that maternal spirochetemia allows the bacteria to cross the placenta, leading to congenital infection. This can result in serious health consequences for the infant, including developmental delays, deformities, or even stillbirth.

Other options do not accurately describe how congenital syphilis occurs. Maternal smoking during pregnancy, while harmful to the fetus, does not cause syphilis. Infection through breastfeeding is not a transmission route for syphilis, as the bacteria do not spread this way. Similarly, exposure to contaminated water does not relate to the transmission of syphilis. Therefore, the most accurate cause of congenital syphilis is the maternal spirochetemia and subsequent transplacental transmission of the infective