Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,234 studies31 sourcesUpdated 17 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BYCase reports in infectious diseases

Necrotizing Enterocolitis Secondary to Congenital Syphilis in an 18-Day-Old Neonate: Successful Treatment With Intravenous Penicillin.

  • Chariya Chap1
  • Vissotsak Bin2
  • Sakviseth Bin2,3
  1. 1Neonatal Ward National Pediatric Hospital Phnom Penh Cambodia.
  2. 2University of Health Sciences Phnom Penh Cambodia akdeniz.edu.tr.
  3. 3Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Calmette Hospital Phnom Penh Cambodia akdeniz.edu.tr.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Congenital syphilis remains a preventable yet persistent global health challenge, particularly in resource-limited countries. Gastrointestinal involvement is uncommon, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has rarely been reported as a manifestation of early congenital syphilis. We present the case of an 18-day-old neonate who was initially admitted with a diagnosis of NEC, with abdominal distension, feeding intolerance, and characteristic radiologic signs, corresponding to Grade IIb NEC according to the Modified Bell criteria. However, the presence of desquamation on the soles, along with a markedly enlarged liver, warranted a test for congenital syphilis, which was subsequently confirmed. The infant was successfully treated with intravenous penicillin alongside standard medical therapy for NEC, resulting in clinical recovery without surgical intervention. This case underscores the role of Treponema pallidum as a potential, yet often unrecognized, causative agent of NEC in neonates. Early recognition and timely, targeted antibiotic therapy are critical to preventing severe complications.

Related

  1. From sepsis to necrotizing enterocolitis with appendiceal perforation: a case report of successful salvage therapy with aztreonam–avibactam in an extremely preterm infant with NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae
    Yang He, Jichong Huang, Bin Du +6
    Frontiers in PharmacologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPharmacology & toxicologyCrossrefEurope PMCPMCEurope PMC
  2. Advances in fecal biomarkers for necrotizing enterocolitis
    Xiaoting Wang, Xiaoting Wang, Jia Yin +8
    Frontiers in PediatricsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textObstetrics, gynaecology & paediatricsDOAJ
  3. AhR ligands in necrotizing enterocolitis: a provisional evidence map of ligand-specific biology and translational considerations.
    Laurent Ferraris, Ioana Ferecatu, Julio Aires
    Gut microbesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCPMCDOAJ
  4. β-glucan mitigates necrotizing enterocolitis-induced long-term cognitive impairment by remodeling gut microbiota and restoring tryptophan metabolite IAA-mediated gut–brain signaling
    Xingdao Zhang, Haiyan Cao, Yuni Zhang +1
    Gut MicrobesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineDOAJ
  5. Altered serum free fatty acid profiles in necrotizing enterocolitis and their associations with peripheral leukocyte counts: a case-control study.
    Chuan Zhang, Zhao Wang, Zhongyu Gao +4
    Translational pediatricsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{chap2026necrotizing,
  title = {{Necrotizing Enterocolitis Secondary to Congenital Syphilis in an 18-Day-Old Neonate: Successful Treatment With Intravenous Penicillin.}},
  author = {Chariya Chap and Vissotsak Bin and Sakviseth Bin},
  journal = {Case reports in infectious diseases},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1155/crdi/6360379},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910338},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Necrotizing Enterocolitis Secondary to Congenital Syphilis in an 18-Day-Old Neonate: Successful Treatment With Intravenous Penicillin.
AU  - Chariya Chap
AU  - Vissotsak Bin
AU  - Sakviseth Bin
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - Case reports in infectious diseases
DO  - 10.1155/crdi/6360379
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910338
AB  - Congenital syphilis remains a preventable yet persistent global health challenge, particularly in resource-limited countries. Gastrointestinal involvement is uncommon, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has rarely been reported as a manifestation of early congenital syphilis. We present the case of an 18-day-old neonate who was initially admitted with a diagnosis of NEC, with abdominal distension, feeding intolerance, and characteristic radiologic signs, corresponding to Grade IIb NEC according to the Modified Bell criteria. However, the presence of desquamation on the soles, along with a markedly enlarged liver, warranted a test for congenital syphilis, which was subsequently confirmed. The infant was successfully treated with intravenous penicillin alongside standard medical therapy for NEC, resulting in clinical recovery without surgical intervention. This case underscores the role of Treponema pallidum as a potential, yet often unrecognized, causative agent of NEC in neonates. Early recognition and timely, targeted antibiotic therapy are critical to preventing severe complications.
SN  - 2090-6625
SN  - 2090-6633
ER  -