Obstetrics - TORCHES Infection - Syphillis Flashcards
1
Q
TORCHES Infection?
Syphilis?
What is it?
Transmission?
A
Caused by the spirochaete Treponema pallidum
Transmitted by sexual contact
2
Q
TORCHES Infection?
Syphilis?
Symptoms?
A
Infection occurs in three stages:
- Chancre - painless
- Disseminated disease - rash on palms and soles
- Cardiac and neurological involvement
3
Q
TORCHES Infection?
Syphilis?
Transmission?
Investigations?
A
Sexual Contact
Investigations:
Venereal Disease Research Lab (VDRL) test
Rapid plasma reagin test
Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS)
- Treponema pallidium* haemaggluntination test (TPHA)
- Trepomema pallidium* particle agglutination test (TPPA)
Treponemal enzyme immmunoassay (EIA)
4
Q
TORCHES Infection?
Syphilis?
Treatment?
A
Conservative:
- Education
- Advice on delivery route
Medical:
- Many antibiotics are contraindicated
- Local guidelines/BNF
- Termination
Maternal:
- Procaine penicillin G
- Doxycycline
- Erythromycin
- Azithromycin
Neurosyphilis:
- Prophylactic prednisolone
- To avoid Jarisch Herxheimer reaction
Fetal:
- Penicillin
5
Q
TORCHES Infection?
Syphilis?
Complications?
A
Fetal ABCDES:
- A - A small head (microcephaly)
- B - Brain pathology (meningitis), Bloodstained nasal discharge
- C - Choroiditis: inflammation of the choroid (thin pigmented vascular coat of the eye) and retina of the eye.
- D - Dental malformations, Deafness (sensorineural - damage to hair cells of cochlea)
- E - Enlarged liver and spleen
S - Skin lesions, Seizures