New Evidence Available
Updated Recommendation
A new evidence synthesis was published:2024, Updated recommendations for the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Treponema pallidum (syphilis) and new recommendations on syphilis testing and partner services.
View latest version (2024)Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations on maternal health: guidelines approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025
Year of Publication2023
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Retired
Recommended in favor
Strong
Certainty of evidence
Very low
In pregnant women with early syphilis, the WHO STI guideline recommends benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units once intramuscularly over no treatment.
Notes and Remarks
- 1.This is defined as: positive syphilis test with history of primary syphilis manifested as genital ulcer (painless chancre) at the site of infection; or secondary syphilis manifested by skin rash often seen on the palms of the hands and soles, condylomata lata, mucocutaneous lesions and generalized lymphadenopathy; or early latent syphilis manifested by no symptoms and known duration of untreated infection of not more than two years.
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
Originally Developed
Guideline
WHO guideline on syphilis screening and treatment for pregnant women
Year2017
InstitutionWHO