Syphillis Flashcards
cause?
Treponema Pallidum
describe the bacteria that causes syphillis
Treponema pallidum
-spirochaete
-spiral shaped bacteria moves by rapid rotation
how is syphillis transmitted?
-sexually
-vertical (mother to baby during pregnancy)
-IV drug use
-blood transfusions and other transplants
how long is the incubation period for primary syphillis
10-90 days
are chancre painful or painless
painless sores
what is the most infectious stage of syphillis?
secondary syphillis
-can spread from just shaking hands
when does secondary syphilis tend to develop?
2-8 weeks after a chancre (ulcer)
how long until symptoms resolve from secondary syphillis and then what does it become?
symptoms resolve after 3-12 weeks
-then enters the latent phase
symptoms in primary syphillis?
Chancre- painless syphillis sores
(most often seen on mouth and genitalia)
Painless local lymphadenopathy
incubation period of secondary syphillis?
6 weeks- 6 months
symptoms during secondary syphillis?
-Maculopapular rash on palms and soles
-Condylomata lata (grey wart like lesions around genitals and anus)
-Low grade fever
-Sore throat
-Headache
-Lymphadenopathy
describe condylamata lata
-seen in secondary syphillis
grey wart like lesions around genitals and anus
explain the different phases in the latent phase
early + late latent
Early Latent:
<2 years after initial infection
-early infectious, asymptomatic but positive serology
Late latent:
>2 years initial infection
-late non infectious, asymptomatic
how does tertiary syphillis present?
Can occur many years after initial infection and can affect many organs
Symptoms/signs- Depend on affected organs:
-Gummatous lesions (granulomatous lesions that affect skin, organs and bones)
-Aortic aneurysms
-Neurosyphillis
how does neurosyphillis present?
-headache, altered behavious, dementia, paralysis, sensory impairement
-Ocular syphilis
-Tabes dorsalic (demyelination affecting spinal cord posterior columns)
-Argyll Robertson pupil
