Infantile congenital syphilis. Presenting with bilateral orchitis.

Case report A 9-day-old male infant was admitted to the Surgical division on July 19, 1969, for treatment of a scrotal swelling present since birth. Both testicles were enlarged, tender, and firm in consistency, and the overlying scrotal skin was inflamed. The child was otherwise apparently well. He was given intramuscular injections of crystalline penicillin 100,000 I.U. 6-hrly, and the scrotal swelling started to regress very rapidly. He was then referred to the Skin and V.D. Department for assessment. He was the second child of the family and the outcome of the fourth pregnancy. He had been born prematurely at the 8th month, the delivery being normal. The first two pregnancies had ended in abortion after 1 to 2 months' gestation. The third pregnancy had been uneventful and the boy's sister was at that time 4 years old and healthy. The mother had no past history or clinical evidence suggestive of syphilis, but the father had had a penile sore followed by a rash 18 months before the baby's birth, and had then received inadequate treatment.