Syphilis Flashcards
1
Q
What type of organism causes syphilis?
A
Treponema pallidum
- it is a spirochete bacteria (spiral-shaped)
- it enters through skin / mucous membranes, replicates and then disseminates throughout the body
2
Q
What is the incubation period between initial infection and symptoms?
A
21 days
3
Q
How can syphilis be contracted?
A
- through oral, vaginal or anal sex
- vertical transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy
- intravenous drug use
- blood transfusions / organ transplants (rare due to screening of blood products)
4
Q
How can syphilis infection be divided into stages?
A
- primary syphilis
- secondary syphilis
- latent syphilis
- tertiary syphilis
- (neurosyphilis)
5
Q
What is primary syphilis?
A
- development of a painless ulcer (chancre) at the original site of infection
- there may be local lymphadenopathy
- the chancre resolves within 3-8 weeks without treatment
6
Q
When does secondary syphilis start?
A
- secondary syphilis begins after the chancre has healed
- typically involves systemic symptoms affecting the skin / mucous membranes
- symptoms resolve after 3-12 weeks
7
Q
What are common presentations of secondary syphilis?
A
- maculopapular rash (usually involving palms/soles)
- condylomata lata (grey wart-like lesions around the genitals / anus)
- low-grade fever
- oral lesions (“mucous patches”) that resemble snail tracks
- generalised lymphadenopathy
- alopecia (localised hair loss)
8
Q
What is meant by latent syphilis and when does this occur?
A
- following the secondary stage, the symptoms disappear and the patient becomes asymptomatic
- they are STILL infected
- early latent syphilis occurs within 2 years of initial infection
- late latent syphilis occurs from 2 years after initial infection onwards
9
Q
When does tertiary syphilis occur?
A
- this occurs many years after the initial infection
- symptoms depend on the internal organs affected
10
Q
What are the key features of neurosyphilis?
A
- gummatous lesions (gummas) that are granulomatous lesions affecting the skin, organs + bones
- aortic aneurysms / coronary arteritis
- neurosyphilis
11
Q
What is neurosyphilis?
A
- occurs if the infection involves the CNS
- it can occur at any stage of disease and presents with neurological symptoms
12
Q
What are the typical symptoms of neurosyphilis?
A
- headache
- altered behaviour
- dementia
-
tabes dorsalis
- demyelination affecting spinal cord posterior columns
- causes pain / sensory deficits
- ocular syphilis
- paralysis
- sensory impairment
13
Q
What is Argyll-Robertson pupil?
A
- a constricted pupil that accommodates** when focussing on a nearby object but **DOES NOT react to light
- specific to neurosyphilis and often irregularly shaped
- called “prostitutes pupil” as it “accommodates but does not react”
14
Q
How is syphilis tested for?
A
a blood test to look for antibodies to the T. pallidum bacteria
14
Q
How is syphilis tested for?
A
a blood test to look for antibodies to the T. pallidum bacteria
