Syphilis in a child: symptoms, signs, first manifestations and treatment

Everyone knows that infection with syphilis occurs through sexual contact. A bacterium called treponema penetrates the human body and begins to multiply actively. You can get sick in the household way, for example, using common objects or through a blood transfusion. If syphilis is detected in a child, the main reason may be hidden in the infection of the mother. Children can become infected while still in the womb, or even during childbirth. The placenta may contain the blood of a mother who is already infected with treponema. From almost the tenth week of pregnancy, an unborn baby may have syphilis.

When the baby is born, then his disease is considered congenital. Such a development of the disease is very dangerous for the unborn child, because he will be born with certain defects, for example, internal organs can be damaged or bone tissue can be destroyed.

Pathogenesis and symptoms of the disease

When syphilis is detected in children, the symptoms will be practically no different from the disease in adults. It should be remembered that the disease has several stages, which differ in symptoms:

1. Congenital syphilis in the early stages is more likely to occur in children under one year old. Adults will be able to detect problems in the baby within the first three months. The doctor can diagnose damage to the internal organs of the child, the central nervous system suffers and the skin changes, it becomes bubbly. A characteristic feature can be considered the fact that the child has pseudo-paralysis. Syphilis in infants is also dangerous because specific meningitis develops with frequent paralysis. It is often difficult to notice meningitis because it does not have any distinct characteristic symptoms.
2. There are syphilis of early childhood, which develops in children from one year to four years. In addition to affecting the central nervous system, specific endarteritis can develop. Atrophy of the optic nerves often occurs, which leads to strabismus and a delay in intellectual development.
3. Late congenital syphilis can be seen from the age of four. The characteristic signs of such a disease can be considered a defect in the development of the clavicle, palate, the effect of the Olympic forehead is manifested. Epilepsy is added to everything else, abnormalities in the pelvic region can occur, and the child will suffer from urinary incontinence even at an older age.

It is important to remember: the sooner the disease can be detected, the greater the chance of recovery or to reduce the progression of the disease, in any other case, death may occur in the first months of the baby's life.

Signs of the disease

Signs of congenital syphilis in a child may not appear immediately, as a rule, there are several stages of proliferation, each stage has characteristic symptoms. It happens that a woman herself does not know that she is a carrier of a bacterium, respectively, she transfers the disease to her unborn child. The fact is that a woman does not always show the characteristic signs of syphilis, for example, ulcers can manifest not only externally, but also internally. The bacterium begins to develop inside a person and spreads to all organs by blood. An adult can notice the appearance of a rash on his body, which does not cause any discomfort, an increase in lymph nodes.

Congenital syphilis in children can be accompanied by diseases such as anemia, pneumonia, and damage to the skin in the genital area. Sometimes it happens that all the symptoms of the disease are absent, but only a few months after birth, the child develops deafness, blindness, and bone deformation. It is important to detect the disease in the early stages, then it can still be cured.

Can a sick mother give birth to a healthy baby?

A child with syphilis can only be born to a sick mother. If a young woman once suffered from this disease, but underwent a full course of treatment and passed all the tests with negative indicators, then we can say that she will not infect her unborn child. There are often cases when syphilis is found in women already during pregnancy, but there are chances to give birth to a healthy baby even in such circumstances. At the initial stages of the mother, a course of therapy can be prescribed, after taking it, the baby in 95% can be born completely healthy.

Given the fact that the symptoms of syphilis in children do not appear immediately, you must constantly examine the baby and take tests. As soon as the baby is born, they immediately take a blood sampling, and often it turns out to be positive. But parents don’t have to panic right away, because there may be antibodies in the blood that were transmitted from matter with the placenta. As a rule, specialists throughout the year carry out three tests for the presence of bacteria.

If the level of antibacterials decreases, then we can conclude that the baby is completely healthy, if it increases, then it is most likely infected with syphilis. Modern methods of treatment are considered effective, therefore, it is possible to cure the disease in the initial stages, but in no case can it be started, otherwise antibodies will begin their detrimental effect on the body.

Effects

Even if syphilis in a child has been treated, this does not mean that the baby is completely healthy. The fact is that taking medications significantly reduces immunity. Doctors say that when treating pale treponema in the blood, a trace reaction may remain, which will remain until the end of life. If the disease was not detected on time, then gradually it can go to the last stage, which is considered the most destructive. Consider how syphilis manifests itself in children in the last stage:

1. First of all, it is worth paying attention that gums can be formed on the body, which are presented in the form of large ulcers inside the body and on the skin. Some of these gummas can go away on their own and not even leave any traces, and from others syphilis ulcers begin to appear, which lead to softness of the tissues and their destruction. This is dangerous because a person begins to rot alive.
2. The nervous system is affected, latent meningitis develops and paralysis occurs.
3. Neurosyphilis is considered dangerous, because it affects the brain and its membrane.

In the later stages, it is very difficult and ineffective to fight the disease, so in most neglected cases, a fatal outcome occurs.

Which doctor treats the disease?

If a rash has been noticed with syphilis in a child, then you should contact not only a venereologist, but also a dermatologist. A dermatologist specializes in treating skin pathologies. As a rule, in every city there is such a doctor in a city clinic. You can also contact the city skin dispensary, where an experienced doctor will be able to choose the appropriate treatment. Despite the fact that in all cases the infection occurs with the same bacterium - treponema, treatment will depend on the complexity of the disease.

1. Congenital syphilis in children can occur within four weeks, but there are few signs of the disease, so it is difficult to feel significant changes in the body, the disease is detected after a thorough diagnosis.
2. The primary stage of the disease in children is characterized by the appearance of chancre, which is very painful, lymph nodes increase.
3. The secondary stage is characterized by numerous ulcers on the mucous membranes and skin; heat, a cold and a cough can be added to everything else.
4. The tertiary stage appears when the treatment is carried out by an inexperienced doctor or a neglected form of the disease. The fact is that infected blood begins to spread rapidly throughout the body and affects the internal organs, which leads to their decay.

If adults came to the hospital with a small child in their family, then the examination will necessarily affect all family members, as it is possible that household syphilis will develop in children. Often there are cases when patients begin to go to the hospital in the later stages of the disease. The treatment will take a long time and is rather difficult, because the disease can be cured only in the early stages. An experienced doctor will definitely prescribe several types of examinations. First of all, he will conduct an examination, and then laboratory and instrumental examination will be carried out. Treatment can not do without antibiotics, which are prescribed even to small children.

Diagnostics

In order to prevent the appearance of such a disease in a child as syphilis, every woman who is only planning a pregnancy should undergo a full examination of her body. In any case, after the detection of the disease, a certain course of treatment will be prescribed, since syphilis reduces immunity and can lead to other equally serious diseases. In the case when a woman is found to have a disease in the early stages of pregnancy, an ultrasound is prescribed, with which you can determine whether the unborn child has suffered. If the ultrasound examination shows an increase in the placenta, liver and spleen, as well as additional fluid in the abdominal part of the baby itself, then it can be said that the child is sick, 100%.

Children born with syphilis are immediately examined not only by a pediatrician, but also by a neurologist and optometrist to assess the general condition of the child. Sometimes an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid is prescribed, and diagnostics are performed on the forearms and legs.

Treatment

The treatment of the disease will depend on what stage it was discovered. When the disease is detected during pregnancy, the doctor prescribes penicillin. It is considered a harmless drug for expectant mothers and a baby. Antibiotics during pregnancy are strictly prohibited, as there may be premature birth. Syphilis in a newborn child is treated with antibiotics, while the doctor prescribes three courses of penicillin, with an interval of two weeks. The dosage of the drug is calculated individually, it all depends on the age of the child.

When syphilis is detected at a late stage, the course is carried out in four stages. Between each course, a break is made for four weeks. In parallel, the child may be prescribed vascular drugs and vitamins. Treatment of syphilis in children can not do without ampicillin, cephalosporin and tetracycline. The complex can only be prescribed by a competent doctor, in any other case there is a risk of improper treatment, which will only aggravate the general condition of the child.

Complex therapy

We found that very young children and pregnant women are prescribed penicillin, but there are other methods of therapy:

1. It is recommended to consume more vitamins.
2. A young child needs to be provided with breast milk in order to strengthen his body.
3. If there are concomitant diseases, then they must be treated in parallel.
4. Sometimes a blood transfusion is performed.
5. If it is not possible to achieve positive results, then the signs of syphilis in children are removed by injection of arsenic, which is administered intravenously at the rate of 0.01 mg per kilogram of baby weight.
6. Experts recommend using bismuth preparations, they are administered intramuscularly. Effectively considered "Biohinol", "Pentabismol." The drug is recommended to be used in a certain dosage, but we must remember that the main contraindication is kidney disease.
7. It’s good for your health to keep your daily routine and spend more time outdoors.
8. The child should be in a balanced emotional state - this will help him recover quickly after taking a course of penicillin.

Given all the recommendations of specialists, then syphilis in a child can be a completely treatable disease.

Predictions for sick children

Thanks to modern capabilities, any disease can be predicted today, which means choosing more suitable treatment methods. This dangerous disease can be cured at any stage, but, given the fact that small children are at risk, everything is different here. Adults must be aware that the sooner they can discover this dangerous disease, the more likely they are to recover and give a normal, full life to their child. If there is syphilis in children, the symptoms can tell a lot, and the degree of damage to the internal organs of the child will depend on this. Of great importance is how exactly the child eats, at what age he is, and how strong his immunity is. It is also important that the child is treated by an experienced doctor, otherwise, with improper treatment, the risk increases that the child will never be able to live a full life.

Predictions for a full recovery can worsen significantly if there are disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, while there is a destruction of the cells of the internal organs, which practically cannot be restored. Much depends on the responsibility of the parents: the sooner they go to the hospital for medical help, the greater the chances of their child recovering. Naturally, when the disease begins to actively develop, then preventing a fatal outcome becomes more difficult every day.

Preventive measures

After the child undergoes a full course of treatment, the doctor must definitely register him in the dispensary. Be sure that every three months the child must undergo a full examination until he is one year old. Further, up to three years, the baby will undergo examination less frequently, once every six months. Women who once had syphilis are always at risk that the disease can recur and be transmitted to a small child before birth, therefore, such children should also be constantly examined, attention should be paid to this during the first three months of the newborn’s life . It is not at all necessary to wait for the onset of syphilis in children - this is a disease that is prevented, so doctors recommend taking penicillin for prevention, but consult with your doctor first to rule out allergic reactions.

It should be remembered that women who have had syphilis and are completely cured can be calm: nothing threatens their child. So that the disease could not harm not only the person himself, but also the people around him, it is enough to follow the usual recommendations for the prevention of syphilis:

1. A woman who is planning a pregnancy must first undergo an examination of the entire body, including taking tests for various sexually transmitted diseases.
2. If there are people in the family who have this terrible disease, everyone should be examined and take the right treatment.
3. A woman can take the right treatment during and after pregnancy if the expected relief does not occur.
4. A young woman planning to become a mother should undergo an ultrasound examination - this allows you to detect the disease in the early stages, which means there are chances to start timely treatment.
5. A newborn with syphilis must be isolated from other children, because weak immunity can easily succumb to other serious diseases.
6. It is important to remember about timely examinations of young children by pediatricians.

Children who have been diagnosed with a congenital form of the disease are required to visit a doctor until they are 17 years old. Examination of such children is carried out by a dermatologist, but, in addition, the patient should be under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, pediatrician and neurologist.

Acquired syphilis is no less dangerous for a little man, so it is important to remove not only the symptoms, but also determine the path of infection in order to prevent re-infection. Despite the fact that children's syphilis is treated in the same way as an adult, self-medication is not worth it, since only a specialist doctor can calculate the exact dosage. In order to prevent workers, kindergartens and schools are required to undergo an annual examination twice a year. If the family has a patient with syphilis, then all other family members must also take tests and undergo preventive treatment. Despite the fact that the disease is considered dangerous and can in some cases even lead to death, it is still treatable, and the sooner treatment begins, the greater the chance of recovery. All parents should know that only they are responsible for the health of their baby, and if something happens to the child or he remains disabled due to inattention of adults, it will be only their fault.