Syphilis Flashcards
What type of infection is syphilis?
Sexually transmitted infection
What is the main organism that causes syphilis?
Treponema pallidum
What type of organism is Treponema pallidum?
Spirochaete
What is the intubation period of syphilis?
9-90 days
How is syphilis characterised?
By primary, secondary and tertiary stages
How does syphilis present in the primary stage?
Chancre - painless ulcer at the site of sexual contact
What is chancre?
Painless ulcer at the site of sexual contact
When does the secondary stage of syphilis tend to occur?
6-10 weeks after primary infection
How does the secondary stage of syphilis tend to present?
- rash on trunk, palms and soles
- buccal ‘snail track’ ulcers
- patchy alopecia
- condylomata lata
What are condylomata lata?
Painless, warty lesions on the genitalia
What is early latent syphilis?
No symptoms but less than 2 years since caught
What is late latent syphilis?
No symptoms but more than 2 years since caught
How does the tertiary stage of syphilis present?
- Neurological
- Cardiovascular
- Gummatous – skin lesions
Is the tertiary stage of syphilis common?
No- rare
How is syphilis diagnosed?
- Clinical signs
- Serology
- PCR on sample from an ulcer
