Perinatal Syphilis Reporting Requirements

What Must Be Reported?

  • All new syphilis cases must be reported within seven days of diagnosis to public health as required by law in Illinois. All positive blood tests, diagnosis, or treatment of syphilis should be reported. The timely reporting of new cases is critical to the success of prevention and partner notification efforts. 
  • Any reactive or positive syphilis case in a child <12 should be reported immediately within 24 hrs.
  • Stillbirths due to syphilis, cases of congenital syphilis detected in newborns and cases of congenitally acquired syphilis in infants and children should all be reported within 24 hours.

How to Report?

Non-Chicago Cases Reported to Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

  • STD Morbidity Report Forms should be completed and faxed to your local health department within seven days of disease diagnosis or treatment for presumed syphilis. In some cases, electronic reporting is available. 
  • A new online provider reporting form can be used to submit syphilis cases during pregnancy or congenital syphilis cases to local health departments. After submission of the form, the local health department will follow up for any additional information needed to complete the case investigation.  

Chicago Cases Reported to Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)

This page was last updated on March 26, 2024.