syphilis

Diagnosis ?

Blood tests : nontreponemal and treponemal tests Nontreponemal tests are used initially, and include venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) and rapid plasma reagin tests. Treponemal test, such as treponemal pallidum particle agglutination (TPHA) or fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-Abs) Neurosyphilis is diagnosed by finding high numbers of leukocytes (predominately lymphocytes) and high protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid in the setting of a known syphilis infection Dark ground microscopy of serous fluid from a chancre may be used to make an immediate diagnosis.

Cardiovascular Syphilis ?

Cardiovascular syphilis usually occurs 10-30 years after the initial infection. The most common complication is syphilitic aortitis, which may result in aneurysm formation.[5]

Congenital Syphilis >?

Congenital syphilis is that which is transmitted during pregnancy or during birth. Two-thirds of syphilitic infants are born without symptoms. Common symptoms that develop over the first couple years of life include: enlargement of the liver and spleen (70%), rash (70%), fever (40%), neurosyphilis (20%), and lung inflammation (20%). If untreated, late congenital syphilis may occur in 40%, including: saddle nose deformation, Higoumenakis sign, saber shin, or Clutton's joints among others.[13]

Gummatous Syphilis ?

Gummatous syphilis or late benign syphilis usually occurs 1 to 46 years after the initial infection, with an average of 15 years. This stage is characterized by the formation of chronic gummas, which are soft, tumor-like balls of inflammation which may vary considerably in size. They typically affect the skin, bone, and liver, but can occur anywhere.[5]

latent sifilis ?

Latent syphilis is defined as having serologic proof of infection without symptoms of disease. It is further described as either early (less than 1 year after secondary syphilis) or late (more than 1 year after secondary syphilis) in the United States

Neurosyphilis Syphilis?

Neurosyphilis refers to an infection involving the central nervous system. It may occur early, being either asymptomatic or in the form of syphilitic meningitis, or late as meningovascular syphilis, general paresis, or tabes dorsalis, which is associated with poor balance and lightning pains in the lower extremities. Late neurosyphilis typically occurs 4 to 25 years after the initial infection. Meningovascular syphilis typically presents with apathy and seizure, and general paresis with dementia and tabes dorsalis.[5] Also, there may be Argyll Robertson pupils, which are bilateral small pupils that constrict when the person focuses on near objects, but do not constrict when exposed to bright light.

Syphilis ?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum

tertiar syphilis?

Tertiary syphilis may occur approximately 3 to 15 years after the initial infection, and may be divided into three different forms: gummatous syphilis (15%), late neurosyphilis (6.5%), and cardiovascular syphilis (10%)

Treatment ?

The first-choice treatment for uncomplicated syphilis remains a single dose of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G.[29] Doxycycline and tetracycline are alternative choices for those allergic to penicillin; however, due to the risk of birth defects these are not recommended for pregnant women.

Secondary sifilis?

secondary syphilis with a diffuse rash which frequently involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, The rash may become maculopapular or pustular. most commonly involve the skin, mucous membranes, and lymph nodes Secondary syphilis occurs approximately four to ten weeks after the primary infection Other symptoms may include fever, sore throat, malaise, weight loss, hair loss, and headache.

Syphilis prevention?

there is no vaccine effective for prevention.[6] Abstinence from intimate physical contact with an infected person is effective at reducing the transmission of syphilis, as is the proper use of a latex condom.

signs and symptoms of syphilis ?

vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary).

Cause of Syphilis ?

Treponema pallidum

Syphilis prevention during pregnancy ?

Congenital syphilis in the newborn can be prevented by screening mothers during early pregnancy and treating those who are infected.[20] The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) strongly recommends universal screening of all pregnant women,[21] while the World Health Organization recommends all women be tested at their first antenatal visit and again in the third trimester.[22] If they are positive, they recommend their partners also be treated.[22] Congenital syphilis is, however, still common in the developing world, as many women do not receive antenatal care at all, and the antenatal care others do receive does not include screening,[20] and it still occasionally occurs in the developed world, as those most likely to acquire syphilis (through drug use, etc.) are least likely to receive care during pregnancy.[20] A number of measures to increase access to testing appear effective at reducing rates of congenital syphilis in low- to middle-income countries.[22]

primary sifilis?

Primary syphilis is typically acquired by direct sexual contact with the infectious lesions of another person.[8] Approximately 3 to 90 days after the initial exposure (average 21 days) a skin lesion, called a chancre, appears at the point of contact.[5] This is classically (40% of the time) a single, firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration with a clean base and sharp borders between 0.3 and 3.0 cm in size.[5] In the classic form, it evolves from a macule to a papule and finally to an erosion or ulcer.Occasionally, multiple lesions may be present (~40%),[5] with multiple lesions more common when coinfected with HIV. The most common location in women is the cervix (44%), the penis in heterosexual men (99%), and anally and rectally relatively commonly in men who have sex with men (34%).[9] Lymph node enlargement frequently (80%) occurs around the area of infection,[5] occurring seven to 10 days after chancre formation.[9] The lesion may persist for three to six weeks without treatment.[5]

Transmission?

The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis.