Syphilis Flashcards
What bacteria is responsible for causing syphilis?
Treponema pallidium (spirochete)
How do we classify the three stages of syphilis?
Primary
Secondary
Late/Latent
What age range has the greatest instances of syphilis?
20-39 y/o
How is syphilis transmitted?
Direct contact with a syphilis lesion (Vagina, penis, anus, rectum, mouth)
Can also be transmitted by pregnant woman to child
You sit on the toilet after someone with a primary infection of syphilis and chancre. You are concerned that you need to be tested for syphilis now. Are your worries justified?
No. Syphilis cannot be spread by contact with inanimate objects.
What are the signs and symptoms of a primary syphilis infection?
A “chancre” (a firm, round, painless lesion) which may be single (entry point) or multiple. Will typically heal w/o treatment in 3-6 weeks.
What is the incubation period of the primary stage of syphilis?
10-90 days (median: 21)
Will the syphilis infection persist without treatment?
Yes; the infection progresses through all stages if not treated.
What are the signs and symptoms of a secondary syphilis infection?
Chancre heals, non pruritic rash forms (faint/reddish brown spots) which affects the palms of hands and soles of feet.
May also have fever, lymphadenopathy, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue.
T/F: A patient is less infectious in the latent stage of syphilis.
True. Yet, still infectious.
What are the signs and symptoms of the late/latent stage of syphilis?
Patients may be asymptomatic but are seropositive.
Manifestations: internal organ damage: brain, CNS, eyes, heart & vascular system, liver, bones, and joints
Dementia, paralysis, gradual blindness, coordination difficulty, …can cause death
About ____% of patients will go on to develop late syphilis, which may occur __-__ years after the initial infection was acquired.
15%; 10-20 years
How do you test for and diagnose syphilis? (may not need to know, but so you can see it)
Screening: Venereal Disease Research Lab (VDRL) or rapid plasma reagent (RPR) tests
Diagnosis: Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TPPA)
What specimens should be obtained when testing for syphilis?
Scraping from chancre, blood, or CSF (latent syphilis) (sample depending on test and stage of disease)
Patients with syphilis are __-__ times higher risk for HIV infection.
2-5 times
Chancre increases likelihood of HIV transmission in both directions (to infect others if HIV+, to become infected by HIV+ partner)
