Final answer:
It is true that syphilis can cause serious complications during pregnancy, including spontaneous miscarriage, preterm labor, stillbirth, and congenital anomalies in newborns. Pregnant women are screened for syphilis and treated with penicillin if necessary to prevent fetal transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that syphilis in a pregnant woman can cause spontaneous miscarriage, preterm labor, stillbirth, or congenital anomalies in the newborn. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, poses a severe risk to the fetus. When a pregnant woman has untreated syphilis, there is a possibility of transmitting the infection to the unborn child, which can result in infant death in up to 40 percent of cases. Babies who are born with congenital syphilis may experience serious health complications, including osteochondritis, anemia, blindness, bone deformations, neurosyphilis, and cardiovascular issues.
Consequently, it is recommended that all pregnant women be screened for syphilis during their first prenatal visit, and again in the third trimester and at the time of delivery if they are at higher risk. For those who test positive, the antibiotic penicillin is effective at preventing transmission to the fetus, with a success rate of around 98 percent.