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Syphilis
Medical Questions » Syphilis
| Name: Syphilis |
| Also known as: |
| Infection that is usually sexually transmitted, and which passes through three main stages over many months or years. Relatively uncommon in developed countries, but still widespread in poorer societies. |
Causes of Syphilis
The spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum which is transmitted by heterosexual or homosexual contact, sharing injecting needles, blood transfusions, or from a mother to her child during pregnancy (congenital syphilis). The same bacteria also causes yaws (see separate entry) which is transmitted by close body contact, but not necessarily sexual contact. |
Symptoms of Syphilis
First stage: a painless sore (chancre) on the penis, the female genitals, or around the anus of homosexuals which heals after three to six weeks. There may be painless enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit and groin that also disappear.
Second stage: starts a few weeks or months later with a widespread rash, mouth and vaginal ulcers, and a slight fever. The patient is highly infectious but will usually recover and enter a latent period that may last many years.
Third (tertiary) stage: years later tumors (gumma) develop in the liver, major arteries, bones, brain, spinal cord (tabes dosalis), skin and other organs. Symptoms vary depending on organs involved but may include arthritis, bone weakness, severe bone pain, paralysis, strokes, heart attacks, internal bleeding from aneurysms, blindness, headaches, jaundice (liver failure), muscle spasms, skin ulcers, scars, nodules in the larynx and lungs, vomiting, confusion, insanity and death.
Congenital syphilis: newborn infant with teeth abnormalities, deafness, misshapen bones, deformed nose, pneumonia, and mental retardation. |
Tests for Syphilis
Diagnosed at all stages by specific blood tests, or by finding the responsible bacteria on a swab taken from a genital sore in the first stage of the disease. All pregnant women are routinely tested. |
Treatment for Syphilis
First and second stages: antibiotics such as penicillin (often as an injection), tetracycline or erythromycin.
Third (tertiary) stage: antibiotics used, but can merely prevent further deterioration as organ damage is irreversible.
Congenital syphilis: child is infectious when born and is treated with antibiotics.
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Complications of Syphilis of its treatment
First stage: usually none.
Second stage: spread of the infection to involve the joints, brain, liver and kidney which may be severely damaged.
Third (tertiary) stage: almost any organ can be seriously damaged.
Congenital syphilis: may develop more serious problems if the condition is not treated aggressively. |
Likely Outcome of Syphilis
A course of antibiotics for a few weeks almost invariably cures the disease in its first two stages. No cure for tertiary or congenital syphilis. Plastic surgery may correct the more obvious congenital deformities. |
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