Primary syphilis is the initial stage in the development of pathologists. In most cases, people miss the early symptoms of the disease, as they have no idea about it. But the disease must be able to recognize at an early stage in order to be able to recover from it without the development of serious consequences. One of the manifestations of primary syphilis is the formation of solid chancre and indurative edema.
Disease onset
Syphilis begins to show the first signs three weeks after infection of a person. At the place where pale treponema (the causative agent of the disease) got into the body, a stain forms, which after seven days is transformed into an ulcer. So there is a hard chancre. A week after that, the lymph nodes located next to the chancre begin to become inflamed and increase in size. Lymphatic vessels through which the infection enters the nodes also increase, indurative edema develops. In medicine, this phenomenon is called lymphangitis.
Thus, solid chancre, lymphangitis and swollen lymph nodes are a standard set of signs of primary syphilis.
Description and description of the problem
Inductive edema with syphilis is a form of specific damage to the lymphatic vessels of the skin located near the solid chancre, or an independent manifestation of primary syphilis. Most often, this phenomenon is observed in the genital area: in women in the labia and clitoris, in men - on the skin of the scrotum and foreskin.
This pathology is characterized by a four-fold increase in the size of the affected area, its tissues become dense and hard. Edema of the intimate zone occurs due to the abundance of small lymphatic vessels in this area. Moreover, it is painless, the inflammatory process does not develop. Palpation of the edema also does not cause pain to the patient, with pressure on the affected area, the fossa does not remain.
Causes of puffiness
Inductive edema occurs due to impaired outflow of blood and lymph due to the development of primary syphilis. Such a pathology is usually formed around a solid chancre, while the pathological area becomes dense. Infiltrate from solid chancre spreads beyond it, provoking the appearance of puffiness.
Symptoms of pathology
Usually, itching is present with inductive edema. The skin in this area has a dark red color, sometimes a blue tint can be observed. This phenomenon is observed for up to two weeks, but without therapy, it can persist until the development of secondary syphilis. In many patients, pathology is complicated by the addition of a secondary infection. Over time, polyadenitis joins inductive edema, a photo of which can be seen on stands in gynecological or venereological clinics, in which there is an increase in lymph nodes throughout the body. The closer the lymph nodes are to the solid chancre, the larger they are.
Recently, non-gender localization of chancre and edema occurs, for example, on the skin and mucous membrane of the anus, abdomen or thigh, fingers of the upper extremities, in the oral cavity.
Often, the tonsils enlarge in the patient, they acquire a copper tint, chancre-amygdalitis forms on them. In another case, the formation of chancre on one of the terminal phalanges of the fingers is possible. Syphilis is suspected by swollen lymph nodes and the formation of edema.
Complications
Hard chancre and inductive edema of the labia in women leads to the development of bartholinitis, in men - phimosis, balanitis, gangrenization. On palpation of the skin flesh of the foreskin, where edema has formed, an infiltrate is determined that does not cause pain. With paraphimosis, this edema contributes to the infringement of the head, which can provoke its necrosis. In this case, the flow of blood and lymph is disturbed even more, inductive edema increases. Its borders become fuzzy, the skin becomes cyanotic.
With the necrosis of the bottom of the chancre, gangrene develops, a black scab appears. After it falls off, a tissue defect remains on the affected area. A secondary infection often joins this process.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of primary syphilis is difficult due to the presence of complications. The doctor studies the history of the disease, examines and interviews the patient. The presence of syphilis is indicated by three main signs: a hard chancre, inductive edema, and swollen lymph nodes. An accurate diagnosis requires laboratory tests. During the survey, the doctor determines the number of sexual partners and sexual contacts over the past six months.
Laboratory diagnostics
The most important step in determining primary syphilis is laboratory research. The doctor prescribes the following methods:
- PCR and ELISA;
- dark-field microscopy (TPM);
- RMP and RPR.
In the first week of the formation of a solid chancre, a laboratory blood test may not show the presence of primary syphilis, so scraping is taken from the chancre and sent to TPM or PCR.
If the chancre is observed for three weeks, then for the final diagnosis they resort to the RPR test and ELISA.
Differential diagnosis
The specific clinical manifestations of primary syphilis makes it possible to reliably differentiate the disease with pathological changes in the genital area, such as scabies, tuberculosis or gummy ulcers, tumors, chinchroids, herpes, and others. But be sure to carry out laboratory tests.
Therapy
Treatment of edema of the intimate area and solid chancre should be carried out as soon as possible, since these signs indicate the development of a serious disease that poses a danger to the health and life of the patient.
The main method of therapy is antibacterial treatment, it is absolutely impossible to interrupt the course. Pale treponema is sensitive to penicillin preparations, therefore, such antibiotics are used to treat syphilis. Typically, the drug is administered every three hours for one day. If treatment is ineffective, the doctor prescribes other antibacterial drugs. Also in the treatment of syphilis, immunomodulators, vitamin and mineral complexes are used. The course of treatment is about three months.
A blood test is performed periodically to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. It is forbidden to have sexual intercourse during therapy. All sexual partners of the patient should be screened for syphilis, and they also need to undergo preventive treatment. Otherwise, the risk of relapse increases several times. Therefore, it is important to inform your sexual partners about the presence of syphilis, so that they have the opportunity to undergo a timely examination.
After the end of therapy, patients should be under the supervision of a doctor for one to three years. The curability is monitored throughout the observation period using the RPR test.
Forecast and Prevention
Primary syphilis lends itself well to therapy, therefore effective and timely treatment gives favorable prognoses. In the absence of treatment, complications begin to appear, the disease goes to the next stage of development.
The most reliable method of prevention is the use of barrier contraception. It is also important to undergo a timely examination when dealing with people who are infected. If you find the first signs of pathology, you must immediately visit a doctor and do not forget to inform your sexual partner about the pathology so that he has the opportunity to undergo an examination as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The sooner a person suspects syphilis in himself by the presence of symptoms such as a hard chancre, indurative edema and swollen lymph nodes, the easier it will be to cure the disease and less negative consequences and complications will develop. That is why it is important to know what the first symptoms of syphilis are.
Even one ulcer in the genital area or oral cavity should alert a person. If after some time a swelling has formed nearby and the lymph node has enlarged, it is very likely that we can talk about the development of primary syphilis. If you suspect this disease, you do not need to let everything drift; it is imperative that you see the venereologist and undergo an examination prescribed by him. The sooner treatment of the pathology begins, the more favorable its prognosis will be. Be sure to undergo an examination and a sexual partner to reduce the risk of a relapse in the future. By observing all the rules and recommendations, serious health complications can be avoided.