SÍFILIS CONGÊNITA: FATORES DE RISCO, DIAGNÓSTICO PRECOCE E PREVENÇÃO EM GESTANTES E CRIANÇAS

Introduction. Congenital syphilis remains a major public health concern in Brazil and worldwide, representing one of the leading preventable causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. It is a vertically transmitted infection from the pregnant woman to the fetus, caused by Treponema pallidum, with transmission occurring mainly during pregnancy or at the time of delivery. The absence of timely diagnosis and treatment in the pregnant woman can lead to serious consequences for the newborn, such as prematurity, low birth weight, congenital malformations, deafness, blindness, and even fetal death. Objective. To analyze the main risk factors for congenital syphilis, as well as early diagnostic and prevention strategies during prenatal care, focusing on the protection of maternal and child health.Justification. This study is relevant as it contributes to updating knowledge on the social and clinical determinants involved in the vertical transmission of syphilis, while also emphasizing the importance of effective preventive actions within prenatal care. Methodology. This is a systematic review based on the PRISMA protocol, using the PICO strategy to select articles published between 2020 and 2025 in the LILACS and PubMed databases. Studies addressing maternal risk factors, serological screening strategies, preventive interventions, and neonatal outcomes related to congenital syphilis were included. Results and Discussion. The main factors associated with congenital syphilis were the absence or late initiation of prenatal care, failures in testing and appropriate treatment of the pregnant woman and her sexual partner, low educational level, and social vulnerability. The use of rapid syphilis testing during the initial prenatal consultations, with repetition in subsequent trimesters, proved essential for early diagnosis. Treatment with benzathine penicillin remains the most effective and safest option. Conclusion. The prevention of congenital syphilis requires early identification of maternal cases, appropriate screening during prenatal care, effective treatment of both the pregnant woman and her partner, as well as educational initiatives and public policies aimed at promoting maternal and child health.