Congenital syphilis question

[babyinchina]

We're in the midst of paper chasing for a special needs adoption in China. My agency asked me to take a look at the file for a little boy who was born premature with congenital syphilis, treated directly after birth with penicillin for a couple of weeks, and who stayed at the hospital (in a major, modern city) for the following six months because the police were searching for his birth parents. They also treated him for pneumonia and conjunctivitis while he was at the hospital. His paperwork states that his syphilis was cured, and they do not indicate that any follow up was needed. They did not perform a lumbar puncture. The orphanage states that he is walking now (he just turned two), playing with blocks, imitating sounds, not a fussy eater, etc. I have seen two pictures, and he is a chubby boy with a huge smile and no visible deformities or other issues. We will not be receiving updated medicals or pics, most likely, and I was just wondering . . .  when it comes to congenital syphilis, cured does mean cured, correct?

I've been scouring the internet trying to figure out if there is anything we should be concerned about in regards to damage caused in utero (I'm assuming that his mother did not receive any treatment while pregnant), or anything else popping up later in life that might be difficult to deal with (blindness, brain damage, etc.). Also, if we adopt him, what should we look for after meeting him to see if he could be displaying any relapse and would need further treatment? I'm entirely willing to be told that there is nothing we should be concerned about at all, but I'm just trying to cover all bases here.

The info I have been able to find has been very scanty, and doesn't mention anything about what life is like for these kiddos after treatment, only what it is like to grow up with *untreated* congenital syphilis (which sounds like a scary thing).

[babyinchina]

Well, that is certainly encouraging. So we shouldn't be too concerned that his organs or brain suffered any damage in utero before treatment could be rendered?

I had read elsewhere that some babies are born with enlarged spleens or livers, when they have this condition, but I didn't know if that was something to worry over. I'm guessing not.

Thanks for such a quick response!

[nouwi]

yes he is 100 % cured