Syphilis belongs to the group of sexually transmitted diseases that affect the entire body. It is characterized by skin and mucous rashes, which in the absence of therapy appear on the internal organs. The venereologist is engaged in the treatment.
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Ways of infection and the causative agent of syphilis
The causative agent of syphilis is pale treponema, which, after penetration into the human body, actively multiplies in the lymphatic system. Then it penetrates into the circulatory system in large quantities, and manifests itself as secondary syphilis.
The causative agent feels great at a temperature of about 37 degrees and sufficient humidity, is resistant to cold environments. Dies when heated from 60 degrees, does not withstand disinfection, acid, alkaline treatment.
The following transmission routes for syphilis are known:
- sexual. Through contact with an infected partner. In this way, syphilis is transmitted most often;
- the household way is less common, since the pathogen does not live in a dry environment;
- intrauterine. Thus, infection occurs from mother to fetus;
- patrimonial, during the passage of the child through the birth canal;
- the professional that medical professionals are usually exposed to;
- during a blood transfusion.
Infection occurs if the patient's discharge contains the causative agent of syphilis.
Interesting! There is a group of people immune to the causative agent of syphilis. This is facilitated by special proteins that destroy pale treponema.
Incubation period
After getting into the body, the causative agent of syphilis enters the circulatory system, from where it passes into the lymph. Through the lymphatic system, it spreads throughout the body. A person is already infected, but does not feel it.
Note. On average, the incubation period lasts 21-50 days after the penetration of pale treponema into the human body.
During the incubation period, a person is a carrier of the disease, he is able to infect other people, but syphilis does not manifest itself. The disease is not even confirmed by laboratory tests.
The following factors influence the lengthening of the incubation period:
- the presence of increased body temperature;
- treatment of inflammation, infection with antibiotic therapy;
- the age of the person. In older people, the incubation period of syphilis increases.
When a large number of pale treponema appears in the body, the incubation period is reduced, the first signs of syphilis are manifested faster.
Disease classification
In medicine, the following classification of syphilis is accepted:
- the primary appearance is determined by the solid chancre in the place where the pathogen penetrated, swelling of the adjacent lymph node. This period lasts up to 2 months;
- the secondary species lasts for several years. Infection passes to internal organs. Specific rashes form on the skin, hair loss begins. This stage is characterized by wavy periods of absence and onset of symptoms;
- the latent view is not characterized by mucous, skin manifestations. There are no signs of infection of internal systems. The disease can only be determined using clinical tests;
- the tertiary species is extremely rare when the disease lasts for many years if untreated. The patient has irreversible damage to the body.
The central nervous system is particularly affected. This type of disease leads to disability, and then follows a fatal outcome.
In addition, syphilis is divided into a visceral view, which affects the internal organs, and neurosyphilis, affecting the patient’s nervous system.
Manifestations, primary symptoms
The first signs of syphilis do not appear immediately after infection. At the initial stage of the disease, the bacterium does not manifest itself in any way. After its rooting in the body, when the pale treponema begins active reproduction, the disease makes itself felt. In women and men, the initial symptoms are the same.
But she is concentrated in different areas:
- in men on the genitals, primary syphilis is manifested by a hard chancre. The head of the penis is covered with sores. Chancre can appear on the abdomen, thigh, pubis. In the male population, other signs of syphilis are rarely observed;
- in women, usually signs of syphilis in the form of a hard chancre are manifested in the abdomen, pubis, hips, and cervix. Perhaps the appearance of ulcers, papules in the oral cavity.
Primary syphilis is manifested by a clinical picture similar to the symptoms of other infectious diseases. The infected person has a headache, joint aches, weakness, fever, loss of appetite.
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Symptoms of syphilis in men, women
Symptoms of syphilis have a direct relationship with the sex of the infected, stage of the disease. The initial symptoms in women are usually invisible, due to the inaccessibility of the usual look. Since often the chancre is formed in the cervix, in the vagina. Less commonly, education is formed on the mammary gland, tongue, and fingers. A week later, an increase in lymph nodes occurs, a woman feels unwell, her body temperature rises, red spots appear on her body.
Then the rash and chancres pass, the latent course of the disease begins. Such periodicity occurs several times. Hair loss occurs on the head. The disease acquires a chronic course, gradually moving to the nervous system, internal organs.
In men, syphilis has a brighter course. Initial symptoms are observed in the form of rashes on the internal organs. A solid chancre can produce secretions that are very dangerous. Diagnosis of a narrowing of the foreskin, its swelling, inguinal lymph nodes increase, attacks of tachycardia, anxiety, shortness of breath are observed. In the absence of treatment, internal organs are affected, body temperature rises. Hair falls out on the head, in the groin, in the armpits.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnosis of syphilis is carried out by a venereologist, urologist, gynecologist. First of all, a conversation is held with the patient, during which information is collected on the route of infection, the time of appearance of the initial signs. The patient is examined, an assessment of the rashes, their location, color.
Next, instrumental studies are connected in the form:
- MRI
- Ultrasound of internal organs;
- radiography.
The examination allows you to assess the condition of the internal organs.
The patient is given a referral to the following laboratory diagnostics:
- blood for syphilis;
- PCR;
- Wassermann reaction;
- serological reactions to detect the presence of antibodies to the pathogen.
If there are chancres that give off, they are examined under a microscope. The diagnosis allows not only to identify the presence of the pathogen, but also to determine the stage of the disease, to select effective treatment.
How is syphilis treated?
It is forbidden to begin treatment of syphilis before conducting a laboratory study. So you can get erased symptoms and incorrect test results. The initial stage of the disease is treated on an outpatient basis, subject to constant visits to the doctor and timely delivery of samples for research. If the patient has primary syphilis, then it is treated for about 3 months. It may take a year to get rid of the secondary species.
Important! During treatment of syphilis, any sexual contact is prohibited.
Treatment of domestic syphilis, as well as all types of this disease, is carried out using:
- antibiotics. The penicillin series is most often prescribed, but there are cases of the pathogen immunity to penicillins. Usually antibiotics are administered up to 8 times per day;
- immunostimulants;
- preparations containing iodine;
- physiotherapy;
- biogenic stimulants;
- vitamin therapy.
The adequacy of therapy is determined by the laboratory method. Treatment of rashes, internal organs, and nervous system may be required.
Consequences and Complications
The consequences of syphilis are directly related to the stage of the disease.
The primary form of the disease is characterized by the following complications:
- tissue necrosis in the formation of a specific chancre;
- paraphimosis;
- balanitis and self-amputation of the penis in men.
Such consequences are quite severe and can cause gangrene of tissues, the penis.
Secondary syphilis leads to the following consequences:
- diffuse baldness;
- complete baldness;
- loss of voice.
In extreme cases, the glottis narrows. This condition requires surgery.
The consequences of the third stage of syphilis are manifested in neurosyphilis, which affects brain cells. The patient has a decrease in intelligence, impaired attention, memory. Cases of damage to internal organs are known.
Most often suffer from complicated visceral syphilis:
- brain;
- heart;
- digestive system;
- lungs.
Complications of tertiary syphilis are not treatable. The internal organs of the patient suffer from destructive changes that cannot be corrected even in an operational way.
How not to get infected with syphilis
Elementary rules of hygiene and safety will help not get infected with syphilis.
Usually recommend:
- prevent unprotected sexual intercourse;
- Do not engage in casual sex;
- sanitize the room in which the sexual act took place;
- treat the oral cavity, genitals with antiseptics;
- use personal hygiene products.
If there has been spontaneous sexual contact with a random partner, then within 2 days you need to visit a venereologist to prescribe emergency prevention. After examination, the doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics that prevent the development of the disease.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that not only affects the entire body. If it is not treated, then irreversible consequences arise, leading to death.
