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
describe Argyll Robertson pupil
Irregularly shaped constricted pupil that accomodates when focusing on a near object but not to light
investigations for syphillis?
1= Specific Treponema Pallidum Assay (TPPA/ TPHA) antibody test Treponemal IgG and IgM
If test 1 is positive do test 2
2= sensitive RPR/VDRL
what is test 2 sensitive RPR/VDRL testing for?
to assess for active syphillis
managment of syphillis?
IM benzathine benzylpenicillin
management of syphillis in pregnancy
same as normal
IM benzathine benzylpenicillin
management of syphillis in penicillin allergy?
doxycycline
what diseases may give a false positive reading to VDRL/RPR?
SomeTimes Mistakes Happen
-SLE
-TB
-Malaria
-HIV
