We describe a case of congenital syphilis in an adopted infant with a unique dermatologic presentation of scalp granulomas, along with lymphadenopathy, anemia, and elevated liver transaminases. To our knowledge, this cutaneous morphology has not been previously reported in the literature. This case highlights the varied clinical presentation of congenital syphilis and the diagnostic challenge it poses for clinicians, especially in the context of unknown prenatal history/unknown risk factors, or if syphilis is acquired during pregnancy after routine screening is performed. As the incidence of congenital syphilis has more than tripled in recent years, this diagnosis should be considered when a neonate or infant presents with unexplained skin nodules.
Keywords: congenital syphilis; granuloma; infectious; pregnancy complications; sexually transmitted diseases; treponemal infections.
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