Treatment of syphilis starts with prevention. Prevention measures include seeking regular medical care throughout a lifetime. Regular medical care allows a health care professional to best evaluate a person's individual risks of catching syphilis and regularly test for the disease. These measures greatly increase the chances of catching and curing syphilis in its earliest stage before serious complications occur.
Other preventive measures include abstaining from sexual activity or having sex only within a mutually monogamous relationship in which neither partner is infected with syphilis or another sexually transmitted disease. Latex condoms also provide some protection when used properly.
Primary Syphilis: (the first stage of syphilis) is a single intramuscular injection of the antibiotic penicillin. More doses of penicillin may be required for people who have had syphilis for more than a year.
Secondary syphilis: Administration of penicillin I.M. is the treatment of choice. For early syphilis, treatment may consist of a single injection of penicillin G benzathine I.M. (2.4 million units). Syphilis of more than 1 year’s duration should be treated with penicillin G benzathine I.M. (2.4 million units/week for 3 weeks).
Non pregnant patients who are allergic to penicillin may be treated with oral tetracycline or doxycycline for 15 days for early syphilis and for 30 days for late infections. Non penicillin therapy for latent or late syphilis should be used only after neurosyphilis has been excluded. Tetracycline is contraindicated in pregnant women. Patients who receive treatment must abstain from sexual contact until the syphilis sores are completely healed.
Tertiary Syphilis: Parenteral penicillin G. Late syphilis (Tertiary syphilis, neurosyphilis, syphilis >1yr or unknown duration)
Asymptomatic
Benzathine penicillin IM weekly for 3 doses, or procaine penicillin daily for 15 days
Repetition of blood tests - to ensure treatment successful.
Symptomatic
IV Crystalline penicillin for 10-14 days or IM procaine penicillin plus probenecid daily.
If syphilis affects the eyes, inner ears, or brain, penicillin may be given intravenously every 4 hours for 10 to 14 days. People who are allergic to penicillin may be given other antibiotics such as ceftriaxone,
(given by injection daily for 10 days) or doxycycline.
(taken by mouth for 14 days).
NB: Because people with primary or secondary syphilis can pass the infection to others, they must avoid sexual contact until they and their sex partners have completed treatment. If people have primary-stage syphilis, all their sex partners of the previous 3 months are at risk of being infected. If they have secondary-stage syphilis, all sex partners of the previous year are at risk. Such sex partners require a blood test for antibodies to the bacteria. If test results are positive, the sex partners need to be treated. Some doctors simply treat all sex partners without waiting for test results.
More than half of people with syphilis in an early stage, especially those with secondary-stage syphilis, develop a reaction 2 to 12 hours after the first treatment. This reaction, called a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, causes fever, headache, sweating, shaking chills, and a temporary worsening of the sores caused by syphilis. Doctors sometimes mistake this reaction for an allergic reaction to penicillin. Rarely, people with neurosyphilis have seizures or become paralyzed. Symptoms of this reaction usually subside within 24 hours and rarely cause permanent damage.
After treatment, examinations and blood tests are done periodically until no infection is detected. If treatment of primary, secondary, or latent-stage syphilis is successful, most people have no more symptoms. But treatment of tertiary-stage syphilis cannot reverse any damage done to organs, such as the brain or heart. People with such damage usually do not improve after treatment. People who have been cured of syphilis do not become immune to it and can be infected again.
It is also important to abstain from sexual activity until all chancre sores are healed and a licensed health care provider has determined that the infection is cured. It is also important to notify and treat all sexual partners of the syphilis infection, even if they have no symptoms.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
DIAGNOSIS
Health care practitioners suspect primary syphilis if people have a typical chancre. They suspect secondary syphilis if people have a typical rash on the palms and soles. Laboratory tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis. Two types of blood tests are used:
A screening test, such as the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) or the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, is done first. Screening tests are inexpensive and easy to do. But they may need to be repeated because for 3 to 6 weeks after the initial infection, results can be negative even though syphilis is present. Such results are called false-negative. Screening test results are sometimes positive when syphilis is not present (false-positive) because another disorder is present.
A confirmatory test must usually be done to confirm a positive screening test. This blood test measures antibodies specific to the bacteria that cause syphilis, Treponema pallidum. Results of confirmatory tests may also be false-negative during the first few weeks after initial infections and thus may need to repeated.
NB: Screening test results may become negative after successful treatment, but the confirmatory test results stay positive indefinitely.
In the primary or secondary stages, syphilis may also be diagnosed using darkfield microscopy. A sample of fluid is taken from a skin or mouth sore and examined using a specially equipped light microscope. The bacteria appear bright against a dark background, making them easier to identify.
In the latent stage, antibody tests of blood and spinal fluid are used to diagnose syphilis.
In the tertiary stage, the diagnosis is based on symptoms and antibody test results. Depending on which symptoms are present, other tests are done. For example, a chest x-ray may be taken or another imaging test may be done to check for an aneurysm in the aorta. If neurosyphilis is suspected, a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is needed to obtain spinal fluid, which is tested for antibodies to the bacteria
A screening test, such as the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) or the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, is done first. Screening tests are inexpensive and easy to do. But they may need to be repeated because for 3 to 6 weeks after the initial infection, results can be negative even though syphilis is present. Such results are called false-negative. Screening test results are sometimes positive when syphilis is not present (false-positive) because another disorder is present.
A confirmatory test must usually be done to confirm a positive screening test. This blood test measures antibodies specific to the bacteria that cause syphilis, Treponema pallidum. Results of confirmatory tests may also be false-negative during the first few weeks after initial infections and thus may need to repeated.
NB: Screening test results may become negative after successful treatment, but the confirmatory test results stay positive indefinitely.
In the primary or secondary stages, syphilis may also be diagnosed using darkfield microscopy. A sample of fluid is taken from a skin or mouth sore and examined using a specially equipped light microscope. The bacteria appear bright against a dark background, making them easier to identify.
In the latent stage, antibody tests of blood and spinal fluid are used to diagnose syphilis.
In the tertiary stage, the diagnosis is based on symptoms and antibody test results. Depending on which symptoms are present, other tests are done. For example, a chest x-ray may be taken or another imaging test may be done to check for an aneurysm in the aorta. If neurosyphilis is suspected, a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is needed to obtain spinal fluid, which is tested for antibodies to the bacteria
Sunday, April 11, 2010
SYMPTOMS OF SYPHILIS
Each stages of syphilis from stage one to three has its symptoms and will be discussed here so that one can differentiate what stage one is, in case one is a victim of this deadly STD...
SYMPTOMS FOR STAGE ONE
CHANCRE: An ulcer like eruption that is located on an epithelial surface. It’s a painless open genital sore usually on penis or vagina; rarely hands, mouth or anus; sometimes inside vagina or on cervix. (After a while, Chancre will disappear with or without treatment, please take note of this).
ULCER: these are also different types of symptoms which occur when one contracts syphilis, they are Penis ulcer, (a local sore in the penis), Vaginal (a sore also in the vaginal), Mouth ulcer, hand ulcer, cervix ulcer, genital ulcer, internal vaginal ulcer Anal and hand ulcer. And others like enlarged groin lymph nodes and enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area. (These groins return to normal with or without treatment after a while.)
SYMPTOMS FOR STAGE TWO
These symptoms appear, after a period of 3 to 6 weeks with treatment in stage one.
Skin rashes: Change in the skin which affects the colour, appearance or texture.
Small brown sores: These are injuries or bruises on the skin caused by secondary syphilis.
Wart-like lumps: Lumpy growths under the skin.
Genital wart-like lumps: These are lumpy growths under the skin in the genital regions.
Mouth lining rash: Change in the skin around the surface and inner part of the mouth, which affects the colour, appearance or texture.
Rash on palms of hand: This is an abnormal condition and reaction of the skin in the palm.
Rash on soles of feet: This also is an abnormal condition and reaction on the soles of an effect patient foot.
Rash on chest: It’s also an abnormal condition and reaction on the chest.
Flu-like symptoms: This is, medically known as influenza, and it’s a common infection of the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs.
Mild fever: This is the occurrence of a mild fever during the second stage of syphilis.
Fatigue: It’s a general term for an abnormal condition in which a person feels a sensation of tiredness, weariness, exhaustion, weakness, or low energy.
Headache: A pain in the head that causes discomfort and is capable of ruining once day.
Sore throat: A sore throat is a symptom of a wide variety of mild to serious diseases, disorders and conditions.
Loss of appetite: This is a state where syphilis patients no longer have interest in food.
Muscle aches: These are pains in the muscles.
Tiredness: This is another symptom of second stage syphilis.
Patchy hair loss: It’s a situation where one’s hair starts pulling off; it becomes weak from the scalp and then starts pulling off.
Swollen lymph glands: The occurrence of lymph glands that are swollen.
Swollen underarm lymph nodes: This is an underarm axiliary swelling.
Swollen groin lymph nodes: Swelling in the groin joint area.
Swollen neck lymph nodes: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck region.
Intermittent symptoms: The symptoms of secondary syphilis can come and go for up to 2 years.
Very contagious: This is when the STD gets to a stage where one can easily contract it from the carrier.
Chancre: may reappear in this stage.
Multiple chancres: The possibility of multiple Chancre occurrences.
Genital ulcers: Skin sores in the Genital region.
Mouth ulcers: Sores in the mouth region
Highly contagious phase of syphilis: In this phase, the STD becomes highly transferrable to some else from the carrier.
N/B: Note that it will get to a phase in the second stage, where one might not feel any pain nor see any of these symptoms mention above. If it gets to such point, someone else can contract the STD very faster in this phase.
SYMPTOMS FOR STAGE THREE
Tertiary syphilis symptoms usually occur after many months or years later of contract the STD. Less than a third of cases progress to tertiary syphilis. There are like to be greatly varied symptoms depending on organs affected by syphilis, and also multiple non-cancerous tumors, though the major symptoms in stage three are main tumors. Below are the various types of tumor that a patient with syphilis will suffer if not attended to on time.
WHAT IS A TUMOR: A tumor or neoplasm refers to a "new growth" of cells that already exist in a certain part of the body. Many different tumors can occur in the nervous system. They often cause headaches, seizures or neurological deficits. Tumors can be both benign or malignant.
Skin tumors: These are abnormal growths of tissue that can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (harmless). They become extremely common as one gets older
Muscle tumors: It is abnormal tissue growth in or originating from muscle tissue.
Bone tumors: Is an abnormal growth of cells within the bone that may be noncancerous, it’s also a neoplastic growth of tissue in bone. It may be benign or malignant, Osteochondromas, it may not require treatment but may be assessed ... Treatment for malignant tumors that have spread to bone depends upon the primary tissue or organ involved.
Brain tumors: Brain tumors are abnormal growths of tissue found inside the skull.
Spinal cord tumors: A spinal cord tumor is a noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growth in or around the spinal cord. This may cause lose sensation in particular areas of the body, or become unable to control bowel and bladder function.
Heart tumors: Heart tumors are called primary tumors. They may develop in any of the heart tissues and may be cancerous or noncancerous. Primary heart tumors are rare, occurring in fewer than 1 of 2,000 people. In adults, about half of noncancerous primary heart tumors are myxomas. Myxomas usually develop in the heart's left upper chamber (atrium). They may develop from embryonic cells located in the inner layer (lining) of the heart's wall
Liver tumors: Noncancerous liver tumors are relatively common and usually cause no symptoms. Most are detected only when an imaging test—such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—is done for an unrelated reason. However, rarely, noncancerous tumors cause the liver to enlarge or to bleed into the abdominal cavity. The liver usually functions normally even when a noncancerous tumor is present.
Stomach tumors: Noncancerous (benign) tumors of the stomach are unlikely to cause symptoms or medical problems, so they often remain undiagnosed and untreated. Occasionally, however, some bleed and are then removed during endoscopy (in which a flexible viewing tube [endoscope] is passed through the mouth to view the esophagus) or surgery
SYMPTOMS FOR STAGE ONE
CHANCRE: An ulcer like eruption that is located on an epithelial surface. It’s a painless open genital sore usually on penis or vagina; rarely hands, mouth or anus; sometimes inside vagina or on cervix. (After a while, Chancre will disappear with or without treatment, please take note of this).
ULCER: these are also different types of symptoms which occur when one contracts syphilis, they are Penis ulcer, (a local sore in the penis), Vaginal (a sore also in the vaginal), Mouth ulcer, hand ulcer, cervix ulcer, genital ulcer, internal vaginal ulcer Anal and hand ulcer. And others like enlarged groin lymph nodes and enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area. (These groins return to normal with or without treatment after a while.)
SYMPTOMS FOR STAGE TWO
These symptoms appear, after a period of 3 to 6 weeks with treatment in stage one.
Skin rashes: Change in the skin which affects the colour, appearance or texture.
Small brown sores: These are injuries or bruises on the skin caused by secondary syphilis.
Wart-like lumps: Lumpy growths under the skin.
Genital wart-like lumps: These are lumpy growths under the skin in the genital regions.
Mouth lining rash: Change in the skin around the surface and inner part of the mouth, which affects the colour, appearance or texture.
Rash on palms of hand: This is an abnormal condition and reaction of the skin in the palm.
Rash on soles of feet: This also is an abnormal condition and reaction on the soles of an effect patient foot.
Rash on chest: It’s also an abnormal condition and reaction on the chest.
Flu-like symptoms: This is, medically known as influenza, and it’s a common infection of the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs.
Mild fever: This is the occurrence of a mild fever during the second stage of syphilis.
Fatigue: It’s a general term for an abnormal condition in which a person feels a sensation of tiredness, weariness, exhaustion, weakness, or low energy.
Headache: A pain in the head that causes discomfort and is capable of ruining once day.
Sore throat: A sore throat is a symptom of a wide variety of mild to serious diseases, disorders and conditions.
Loss of appetite: This is a state where syphilis patients no longer have interest in food.
Muscle aches: These are pains in the muscles.
Tiredness: This is another symptom of second stage syphilis.
Patchy hair loss: It’s a situation where one’s hair starts pulling off; it becomes weak from the scalp and then starts pulling off.
Swollen lymph glands: The occurrence of lymph glands that are swollen.
Swollen underarm lymph nodes: This is an underarm axiliary swelling.
Swollen groin lymph nodes: Swelling in the groin joint area.
Swollen neck lymph nodes: Swollen lymph nodes in the neck region.
Intermittent symptoms: The symptoms of secondary syphilis can come and go for up to 2 years.
Very contagious: This is when the STD gets to a stage where one can easily contract it from the carrier.
Chancre: may reappear in this stage.
Multiple chancres: The possibility of multiple Chancre occurrences.
Genital ulcers: Skin sores in the Genital region.
Mouth ulcers: Sores in the mouth region
Highly contagious phase of syphilis: In this phase, the STD becomes highly transferrable to some else from the carrier.
N/B: Note that it will get to a phase in the second stage, where one might not feel any pain nor see any of these symptoms mention above. If it gets to such point, someone else can contract the STD very faster in this phase.
SYMPTOMS FOR STAGE THREE
Tertiary syphilis symptoms usually occur after many months or years later of contract the STD. Less than a third of cases progress to tertiary syphilis. There are like to be greatly varied symptoms depending on organs affected by syphilis, and also multiple non-cancerous tumors, though the major symptoms in stage three are main tumors. Below are the various types of tumor that a patient with syphilis will suffer if not attended to on time.
WHAT IS A TUMOR: A tumor or neoplasm refers to a "new growth" of cells that already exist in a certain part of the body. Many different tumors can occur in the nervous system. They often cause headaches, seizures or neurological deficits. Tumors can be both benign or malignant.
Skin tumors: These are abnormal growths of tissue that can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (harmless). They become extremely common as one gets older
Muscle tumors: It is abnormal tissue growth in or originating from muscle tissue.
Bone tumors: Is an abnormal growth of cells within the bone that may be noncancerous, it’s also a neoplastic growth of tissue in bone. It may be benign or malignant, Osteochondromas, it may not require treatment but may be assessed ... Treatment for malignant tumors that have spread to bone depends upon the primary tissue or organ involved.
Brain tumors: Brain tumors are abnormal growths of tissue found inside the skull.
Spinal cord tumors: A spinal cord tumor is a noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) growth in or around the spinal cord. This may cause lose sensation in particular areas of the body, or become unable to control bowel and bladder function.
Heart tumors: Heart tumors are called primary tumors. They may develop in any of the heart tissues and may be cancerous or noncancerous. Primary heart tumors are rare, occurring in fewer than 1 of 2,000 people. In adults, about half of noncancerous primary heart tumors are myxomas. Myxomas usually develop in the heart's left upper chamber (atrium). They may develop from embryonic cells located in the inner layer (lining) of the heart's wall
Liver tumors: Noncancerous liver tumors are relatively common and usually cause no symptoms. Most are detected only when an imaging test—such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—is done for an unrelated reason. However, rarely, noncancerous tumors cause the liver to enlarge or to bleed into the abdominal cavity. The liver usually functions normally even when a noncancerous tumor is present.
Stomach tumors: Noncancerous (benign) tumors of the stomach are unlikely to cause symptoms or medical problems, so they often remain undiagnosed and untreated. Occasionally, however, some bleed and are then removed during endoscopy (in which a flexible viewing tube [endoscope] is passed through the mouth to view the esophagus) or surgery
Thursday, April 8, 2010
SIGNS OF SYPHILIS
The first symptoms of syphilis may go undetected because they are very mild and disappear spontaneously. The initial symptom is a chancre; it is usually a painless open sore that usually appears on the penis or around or in the vagina. It can also occur near the mouth, anus, or on the hands. If untreated, syphilis may go on to more advanced stages, including a transient rash and, eventually, serious involvement of the heart and central nervous system. The full course of the disease can take years. Penicillin remains the most effective drug to treat people with syphilis.
The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection; however, the bacteria move throughout the body, damaging many organs over time. Medical experts describe the course of the disease by dividing it into four stages – primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary (late). An infected person who has not been treated may infect others during the first two stages, which usually last one to two years. In its late stages, untreated syphilis, although not contagious, can cause serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness, other neurologic problems, and death.
Secondary syphilis is often marked by a skin rash that is characterized by brown sores about the size of a penny. The rash appears anywhere from three to six weeks after the chancre appears. While the rash may cover the whole body or appear only in a few areas, the palms of the hands and soles of the feet are almost always involved. Because active bacteria are present in these sores, any physical contact – sexual or nonsexual – with the broken skin of an infected person may spread the infection at this stage. The rash usually heals within several weeks or months. Other symptoms also may occur, such as mild fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, as well as patchy hair loss, and swollen lymph glands throughout the body. These symptoms may be very mild and, like the chancre of primary syphilis, will disappear without treatment. The signs of secondary syphilis may come and go over the next one to two years.
If untreated, syphilis may lapse into a latent stage during which the disease is no longer contagious and no symptoms are present. Many people who are not treated will suffer no further consequences of the disease. Approximately one-third of those who have secondary syphilis, however, go on to develop the complications of late, or tertiary, syphilis, in which the bacteria damage the heart, eyes, brain, nervous system, bones, joints, or almost any other part of the body. This stage can last for years, or even for decades. Late syphilis, the final stage, can result in mental illness, blindness, other neurologic problems, heart disease, and death
(Source: excerpt from Syphilis, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection; however, the bacteria move throughout the body, damaging many organs over time. Medical experts describe the course of the disease by dividing it into four stages – primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary (late). An infected person who has not been treated may infect others during the first two stages, which usually last one to two years. In its late stages, untreated syphilis, although not contagious, can cause serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness, other neurologic problems, and death.
Secondary syphilis is often marked by a skin rash that is characterized by brown sores about the size of a penny. The rash appears anywhere from three to six weeks after the chancre appears. While the rash may cover the whole body or appear only in a few areas, the palms of the hands and soles of the feet are almost always involved. Because active bacteria are present in these sores, any physical contact – sexual or nonsexual – with the broken skin of an infected person may spread the infection at this stage. The rash usually heals within several weeks or months. Other symptoms also may occur, such as mild fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, as well as patchy hair loss, and swollen lymph glands throughout the body. These symptoms may be very mild and, like the chancre of primary syphilis, will disappear without treatment. The signs of secondary syphilis may come and go over the next one to two years.
If untreated, syphilis may lapse into a latent stage during which the disease is no longer contagious and no symptoms are present. Many people who are not treated will suffer no further consequences of the disease. Approximately one-third of those who have secondary syphilis, however, go on to develop the complications of late, or tertiary, syphilis, in which the bacteria damage the heart, eyes, brain, nervous system, bones, joints, or almost any other part of the body. This stage can last for years, or even for decades. Late syphilis, the final stage, can result in mental illness, blindness, other neurologic problems, heart disease, and death
(Source: excerpt from Syphilis, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
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