What is the pathophysiology of syphilis?

Syphilis uses fibronectin molecules to attach to the endothelial surface of the vessels in organs resulting in inflammation and obliteration of the small blood vessels causing vasculitis (endarteritis obliterans). Organism has slow replication rate (30-33 hrs) and evades the initial host immune response.

What is known about the pathogenesis of primary syphilis?

The pathogenesis of Primary syphilis The surface necroses to yield a hard-based ulcerated lesion, termed the chancre, which is teeming with spirochetes and is highly infectious. The basic pathologic lesion is an endarteritis. The small arterioles show swelling and proliferation of their endothelial cells.

What is the pathogenesis of tertiary syphilis?

The pathogenesis of Tertiary Syphilis is due to long-term inflammation of affected organs due to the chronic presence of T. pallidum. Importantly, only 30% of untreated individuals with Latent Syphilis ever develop signs and symptoms of Tertiary Syphilis.

What is the pathogenesis of Treponema pallidum?

Treponema pallidum subsp pallidum, the most invasive of the pathogenic treponemes, produces highly destructive lesions in almost any tissue of the body, including the central nervous system. Treponema carateum is the least invasive and causes only cutaneous disease.

What is the 3rd phase of syphilis infection?

This is the most destructive stage of syphilis. If untreated, the tertiary stage may begin as early as 1 year after infection or at any time during a person’s lifetime. A person may never experience this stage of the illness.

How does syphilis affect the body?

Syphilis can cause problems like headaches, meningitis, brain damage, paralysis, or hearing and vision loss. Cardiovascular problems. The disease can damage your heart valves or cause bulging blood vessels (aneurysms) or an inflamed aorta (aortitis).

What is the second symptom of primary syphilis?

This rash is usually not itchy and may be accompanied by wartlike sores in your mouth or genital area. Some people also experience hair loss, muscle aches, a fever, a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. These signs and symptoms may disappear within a few weeks or repeatedly come and go for as long as a year.

How long does it take to treat and cure syphilis?

The recommended treatment for neurosyphilis, ocular syphilis, or otosyphilis is Aqueous crystalline penicillin G 18-24 million units per day, administered as 3-4 million units intravenously every 4 hours or continuous infusion, for 10-14 days. Treatment will prevent disease progression, but it might not repair damage already done.

What are some interesting facts about syphilis?

Syphilis – Quick Facts. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is curable with antibiotic treatment. Syphilis is spread through sex: vaginal, anal, and oral. Syphilis is a “skin-to-skin” disease. It can be transmitted when a sore or other syphilis lesion of a sex partner rubs against a tiny cut or opening in the skin.

What is the prognosis for syphilis?

People with meningovascular syphilis, general paresis, or tabes dorsalis usually do not return to normal health, although they may get much better. Individuals who receive treatment many years after they have been infected have a worse prognosis. Treatment outcome is different for every person.

What are the diagnostic categories of syphilis?

primary

  • secondary
  • latent
  • tertiary