Syphilis is a chronic sexually transmitted disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, bones, nervous system, internal organs. The causative agent of this disease is pale treponema , which is unstable in the external environment. When exposed to soap solutions, alcohols, as well as temperatures above 48 degrees, it instantly dies.
The main ways of syphilis infection: sexual, blood transfusion, intrauterine, rarely household.
Four periods of the disease can be distinguished. Syphilis, the signs of which are heterogeneous, has differences at each stage of the disease.
The incubation period is the period from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first clinical signs of the disease, the main of which is the appearance of hard chancre. Its duration is 30 days. It can increase with antibiotic therapy for any other infectious diseases. The patient in this period is not contagious to others.
Primary syphilis characterizes the formation of an ulcer with rounded, smooth edges at the site of penetration of pale treponema. The signs of the disease at this stage are limited to the appearance of only this formation, which is called the hard chancre. It is painless, so it often goes unnoticed. Syphilis at this stage is very contagious, since there are a large number of pathogens in the solid chancre.
After about five weeks, the ulcer disappears, and a scar appears in its place. These changes can not be taken for the end of the disease. Next, treponema enters the nearby lymph nodes (inguinal) and then spreads through the body with a blood stream. Lymph nodes that have been affected by the causative agent of the disease, increase in size, acquire a dense-elastic consistency, however, they are painless and mobile.
At the end of this period, the following general symptoms of syphilis are observed : headache, weakness, fever to subfebrile marks, pain in muscles and joints.
Ten weeks after the onset of the disease, characteristic signs of syphilis of the second period appear on the skin: a specific rash, which is characterized by the polymorphism of elements (nodules, pustules, spots). It is not manifested by any symptoms (there is no pain, itching, burning). This rash usually disappears without treatment within a few weeks.
Then begins the stage of secondary latent syphilis, which is characterized by the formation of a rash, baldness of small areas on the skin of the neck (crown of Venus). Elements of the rash are painless. During this period, the danger of infection in the household way is great. The wave-like course (periods of remission are replaced by stages of exacerbation) characterizes secondary syphilis. Signs of the disease during this period become most pronounced, the likelihood of infection increases to one hundred percent.
After about five years, the tertiary period of syphilis begins. It is characterized by the appearance of gum (specific foci) in various organ systems (skin, liver, lungs, brain, eyes, heart, bones). When they decay, the corresponding organs are destroyed. Clinical symptoms are the formation of ulcers on the mucous membranes of the nose, palate, and pharynx. This period is characterized by the destruction of nerve cells of the spinal cord, as well as the brain. The result is progressive paralysis, dementia. The lesions do not contain pathogens, so the patient is not contagious to others.
Syphilis and pregnancy are an extremely unfavorable combination, since there is a high probability of infection in the fetus. If the pregnant woman has signs of syphilis in the secondary period, the probability of infection approaches one hundred percent. In later forms, the probability of transmission of the pathogen is significantly reduced.
Syphilis in pregnant women threatens fetal death and spontaneous abortion. If a child is born, then soon he will begin to show signs of a disease, which in this case is called congenital. In order to prevent syphilis, the signs of which will appear from the first weeks of a child's life, it is necessary to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.