Syphilis is one of the three best known veneral diseases.It was
first described in 1905. Syphilis runs a definite course,
passing through stages. The discase is highly contageous
when in both primary and secondary stages. This is why it
is common to behold the sore of syphilis in sites other than
the usual genital area. In other words, presentation can be
in the lips, tongues, fingers, anus etc.These sites are
described as extragenital
CAUSATIVE ORGANISM:
Syphilis is caused by an organism known as Treponema
pallidium. The shape of the organism is different from the normal bacteria and hence referred to as spirochetes.
The period between the time of contact with the disease and
the manifestation of the signs and symptoms is variable.
This incubation period varies from 2 to 8 weeks or even up to 3 months. The site of inoculation usually, causes local icritation. Within the weeks, the site of inoculation
become,somewhat hard and finally breaks down to form
Sore. At this inoculation stage, it may appear as a pimple or
small boil which later breaks down to form a sore. This
sore is known as primary chancre of syphilis. It is highly
contageous but unfortunately, the sore is painless and may
go unnoticed especially if it is intravaginal i.e inside the vagina.
CLASSIFICATION OF SYPHILIS
Syphiis is divided into three stages
1. Primary Syphilis
2. Secondary Syphilis
3. Tertiary Syphilis
PRIMARY SYPHILIS:
The Primary chancre as it is usually called, appears 10 days
to 3months from the date of 1st contact. It starts with area
of local iritation at the site of inoculation and later appear
as a hard noddle which finally breaks down to form a sore
it is usually painless, a characteristic that makes the
primary stage to go unnoticed especially when it occurs inside the vagina.
The primary stages is contagenous and thus infects any
part of the body that touches it. The mouth in oral sex, the
fingers in fingering and also the tongues in oral sex.
Lymphnodes in the groins also swell up and are painless
as well. They do not break down like the chancre of syphilis
SECONDARY SYPHILIS:
The primary chancre tends to heal after 6-8 weeks. The
Secondary stage begins with the evidence of generalised
Infections. The patient may have headaches, malaise, sore
throat and low grade fever. Four cardinal signs usually give
away secondary syphilıs:
1. Rashes
*The rashes are usually flat and red in colour
*They do not itch.
*They later join and may become scaly. The rashes may occur in the Trunk, limos, face, palms, soles, anus, they may be within the skin or above
the skin (papular or macular)
2. CONDYLOMATA LATAE:
When the rashes appear in the perenial regions of
the vagina and the anus, they become wet and
heaped up. This is known as condylomata and it
contains a lot of infective treponema palladium and
infects readily, on contact
3. MUCOUS PATCHES:
Mucous patches may appear in the mouth and are
also painless. The ulcers are shallow and covered
by whitish membrane. They have often been described as Snail Track Ulcers
4. LYMPHADENOPATHY:
There may be generalised Painless
Lymphadepopathy.
All these may be seen in the secondary stage of syphilis
TERTIARY STAGE:
At this stage, the lesion appears everywhere and in most
cases, in many organs of the body -liver testes, bones,
tongues. etc. It may appear as ulcers known as Gumma.
CONGENITAL SYPHILIS:
A mother having this deadiy veneral disease, can pass
over to the new born.
The baby is ether born dead or with serious malformations
NEURO SYPHILIS.
This is a late complication of syphilis infection where the
nerves are attacked. The condition may lead to
generalised paralysis of the insane (GP1) from
involvement of the Brain.
WARNING
Syphilis is treatable. Discovery of
any of the ulcers in any part of the
body must be shown to a specialist
Do not hide it.
CHANCROID (SOFT SORE)
Unlike syphilis, the sore of Chancroid is characteristicaly
Irregular in shape
Multiple appearance
painful
Incubation period is between 3 days to one week
The lymphnodes may be involved but this time unlike
syphilis, may suppurate and breakdown They are usually
painful.
There is also a feeling of low grade fever, malaise and
corresponding lymphnodes may be affected.
Causative organism is known as Hemophilus Ducreyi.
N/B. Please see your doctor anytime you notice this ulcer
The ulcer is always painless
Syphilis is a deadly sexually transmitted disease.
Primary Syphilis _A primary sore or chancre develops at the site of entry of the treponemes in about 3-4 weeks.
It may resolve at any stage of its development and thus be
quite atypical. Starting as an indurated papule, it becomes
eroded and when fully developed Will present the following
Signs of a classical Hunterian chancer- a shallow, indurated
painless, non-bleeding ulcer, usually single, oval or round,
with a raised hyperaemic margin. A painless enlargement
of the associated lymphnodes occurs.
There are no Constitutional symptoms and female patient Will be unaware of the presence of an intravaginal chancre. Extragenital chances of the lip, tongue, nipples etc are now rare but rectal and perianal primaries occur in homosexuals and are atypical.