What is the Meaning & Definition of syphilis
Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum. It is a disease known since antiquity, which caused great havoc in the past centuries.
The mechanism of transmission of syphilis is through sexual contact. Once acquired, it becomes a chronic infection that has as special that arises with phases of disease activity separated by periods of latency.
This lesion appears on the sites of entry of the micro-organism, mainly in the penis, year, mouth, female genitalia, or cervix. The Chancre lasts between 4-6 weeks after which spontaneously disappears without treatment, accompanied by enlargement of the lymph nodes in the groin.
The main manifestation of secondary syphilis is the appearance of a rash of pink or reddish color that is accompanied by elevated lesions that may ulcerate or erode covering pus; These lesions are distributed throughout the body symmetrically, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Secondary syphilis also affects the scalp, beard and mustache, hair fall producing area, this was one of the causes that led to the boom in the use of wigs by the nobles, movement that began in France during the reign of Luis XIV, later spreading to other European courts.
Nervous system-wide syphilis can result in a picture similar to meningitis, a stroke of home slow and progressive general paralysis due to extensive brain areas and a well-known since the antiquity table called tabes dorsalis characterized by disorders for gait, loss of reflexes, loss of sensitivity and alterations in the pupils.
The aorta artery is frequently seat of late syphilis lesions, in this blood vessel Treponemes affect its layer media producing an expansion known as aneurysm.
Finally the skin and soft tissues may be affected by the presence of nodular lesions known as pastes.
The best strategy against syphilis is prevention, which is based on the adoption of methods of barrier such as the use of condoms and to avoid sexual contact with sick people or high risk as homosexuals, bisexuals, prostitutes and promiscuous people.
The mechanism of transmission of syphilis is through sexual contact. Once acquired, it becomes a chronic infection that has as special that arises with phases of disease activity separated by periods of latency.
Primary syphilis
After contact with Treponemes infection which will show their first symptoms approximately 4 weeks after the infection develops, its first manifestation is usually a single lesion type ulcer, hard, painless known as canker.This lesion appears on the sites of entry of the micro-organism, mainly in the penis, year, mouth, female genitalia, or cervix. The Chancre lasts between 4-6 weeks after which spontaneously disappears without treatment, accompanied by enlargement of the lymph nodes in the groin.
Secondary syphilis
In a second phase, syphilis is able to cause widespread symptoms covering the skin, mucous membranes and lymph nodes. Symptoms such as malaise, prolonged fever and weight loss may occur at this stage.The main manifestation of secondary syphilis is the appearance of a rash of pink or reddish color that is accompanied by elevated lesions that may ulcerate or erode covering pus; These lesions are distributed throughout the body symmetrically, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Secondary syphilis also affects the scalp, beard and mustache, hair fall producing area, this was one of the causes that led to the boom in the use of wigs by the nobles, movement that began in France during the reign of Luis XIV, later spreading to other European courts.
Late syphilis
Treponemes replication causes a series of damage to various tissues, mainly the nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the skin.Nervous system-wide syphilis can result in a picture similar to meningitis, a stroke of home slow and progressive general paralysis due to extensive brain areas and a well-known since the antiquity table called tabes dorsalis characterized by disorders for gait, loss of reflexes, loss of sensitivity and alterations in the pupils.
The aorta artery is frequently seat of late syphilis lesions, in this blood vessel Treponemes affect its layer media producing an expansion known as aneurysm.
Finally the skin and soft tissues may be affected by the presence of nodular lesions known as pastes.
Congenital syphilis
A woman infected with syphilis is capable of transmitting the disease to the fetus through the placenta, this usually occurs from the fourth month of pregnancy and may cause both the death of the fetus in the uterus and the development of a number of congenital malformations.Diagnosis and treatment
Syphilis is a disease that is able to produce a variety of symptoms or arise even with few manifestations which makes it difficult to recognize it. Usually the diagnosis is confirmed with a laboratory test called VDRL, this is not specific to this disease and can give positive in other conditions, so that after a result positive confirmatory test known as FTA-ABS is requested, both tests are conducted on a sample of blood.The best strategy against syphilis is prevention, which is based on the adoption of methods of barrier such as the use of condoms and to avoid sexual contact with sick people or high risk as homosexuals, bisexuals, prostitutes and promiscuous people.