Acquired syphilis in children: A retrospective study over two-and-a-half decades in a tertiary care center in northern India.

Social inhibitions and reluctance to report child sexual abuse may have led to an underestimate of actual prevalence. The prevalence in the 12- to 14-year age group may indicate emerging trends of promiscuous sexual behavior. The recent rising trend in occurrence of childhood acquired syphilis may mirror the recent resurgence of adult syphilis.