Sitename.com
Diseases Symptoms Drugs Injuries Surgeries Vitamins Pediatric Symptoms
  home         about us         support center         contact us         terms of service         site map

SYPHILIS

General Information

DEFINITION--A contagious, sexually-transmitted disease that causes widespread tissue destruction. Syphilis is known as the "great mimic," because its symptoms resemble those of many other diseases.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Genitals; skin; central nervous system.

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED

  • Newborns (0 to 2 weeks) born to mothers with syphilis (congenital form).
  • Persons of all ages and both sexes who have sexual contact (contagious form).

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

First stage (contagious; appears 3 to 6 days after contact):

  • A painless, red sore (chancre) on the genitals, mouth or rectum. The sore usually affects the penis in males and vagina or cervix in females.

Second stage (contagious; begins 6 or more weeks after the chancre appears):

  • Enlarged lymph glands in the neck, armpit or groin.
  • Headache.
  • Rash on skin and mucous membranes of the penis, vagina or mouth. The rash has small, red, scaly bumps.
  • Fever (sometimes).

Third stage (non-contagious; may appear years after the first and second stages):

  • Mental deterioration.
  • Sexual impotence.
  • Loss of balance.
  • Loss of feeling or shooting pains in the legs.
  • Heart disease.

CAUSES--

    The infecting germ for both forms is Treponema pallidum.

  • The congenital form is spread to the fetus through the bloodstream.
  • The contagious form is spread by intimate sexual contact with someone who has syphilis in the first or second stages.

RISK INCREASES WITH

  • Many sexual partners.
  • Male-to-male sexual activity.

HOW TO PREVENT

  • Obtain blood serum test for syphilis early in pregnancy. If infected, consult your doctor immediately for treatment.
  • Use latex condoms during intercourse.
  • Avoid any sexual contact if you suspect a partner is infectious.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

  • Your own observation of symptoms.
  • Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
  • Laboratory studies, such as a blood serum test for syphilis, a microscopic exam of discharge from the chancre and a study of spinal fluid. Tests are repeated after treatment.

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE--Doctor's treatment.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS--Widespread tissue destruction and death without treatment.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--Usually curable in 3 months with treatment. In spite of treatment, syphilis returns within 1 year in 10% of patients. If this happens, re-treatment is necessary.


How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES--

  • Ensure that all your sexual partners obtain treatment. The public health department will work with you to notify contacts confidentially and help them obtain treatment.
  • After treatment, have blood studies done each month for 6 months to check for recurrence. Then repeat blood studies every 3 months for 2 years.
  • See Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Resources for Additional Information.

MEDICATION--Your doctor will probably prescribe:

  • Penicillin by injection unless you are allergic to it. If penicillin cannot be used, other antibiotics can be equally as effective.
  • Topical medications as needed for skin symptoms.

ACTIVITY--Avoid sexual intercourse for at least 2 months after treatment begins. Then use latex condoms during sexual intercourse.

DIET--No special diet.


Call Your Doctor If

  • You have symptoms of syphilis.
  • The following occurs during or after treatment: Fever. Skin rash, sore throat or swelling in any joint, such as the ankle or knee.
  • New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.
  • You once had syphilis and have not had a medical checkup in the past year.
  • You have had sexual contact with someone who has syphilis.
Dserun mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum and sunt in culpa qui officias deserunt mollit. Excepteur plus sint occaecat the best cupidatat nonr proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. September 24, 2004
read more

Email:

Excepteur plus sint occaecat the best cupidatat nonr proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit.
Support forums
Help desk
F.A.Q.
go
home       about us      affiliates     contact us       terms of service      

© 2005 HealthSE.com All right reserved