Syphilis

Syphilis, also known as syphilis or through the name of his initial injury, chancre, and is an infectious disease caused by sexually transmitted bacteria called spirochete Treponema pallidum.
The main forms of transmission are sexual contact and vertical transmission to the fetus during pregnancy a woman's contaminated. In the latter case, the fetus suffers from congenital syphilis, which has different signs and symptoms of syphilis classical to affect humans during their growth phase.
Syphilis evolves slowly in stages, known as primary syphilis, secondary, latent and tertiary. In the primary phase is the initial lesion, the chancre, a painless ulcer unique and that resolve spontaneously. In the secondary stage demonstrations occur in skin and mucous membranes, usually affecting hands and feet. After the secondary phase is the latent phase, no signs or symptoms. In the tertiary stage are usually systemic manifestations: cutaneous, mucosal, neurological, cardiovascular and joint.
The diagnosis is usually made through blood tests, but the bacteria can also be observed through the microscope. Syphilis is also diagnosed in asymptomatic pregnant during the course of prenatal care.
Treatment is by antibiotics, typically penicillin G benzathine intramuscularly. The number of doses required for treatment varies according to the stage of syphilis patient.
The disease can be prevented by using condoms during sexual intercourse and in the case of congenital syphilis, completion of syphilis screening in prenatal care of pregnant women.
Treatment
Syphilis is an infectious and contagious disease caused by a bacterium: a Treponema pallidum. It is acquired mainly through sexual contact guard with infected partner. It can be transmitted from mother to fetus: congenital syphilis.
Knowing about it is of utmost importance, since it is not cured, can manifest systemic complications and even cause problems such as blindness, paralysis and brain damage.
Its main symptoms can be confused with other sexually transmitted diseases. Thus, confirmatory diagnosis must be done on blood samples seeking the presence of antibodies to Treponema this material.
The presence of lumps in the groin and small wounds and deep hardened edges, both painless, are characteristic of the first phase. These manifestations occur approximately 15 days after contact with the bacteria, and between three and six weeks, disappear without scarring. Because of this last feature, the individual may believe that since healed, leaving to treatment.
When this occurs after a latency period which varies between six and eight weeks, the disease returns to manifest itself, affecting the skin and internal organs according to the degree of impairment thereof. Headaches and throat, malaise, fever, and loss of appetite and weight loss are some symptoms. The appearance of lumps in other body regions and injuries of small diameter, pinkish or purplish, flat and painless are other features of the second phase of this STD. The individual may remain indefinitely on this, and can last a lifetime.
The tertiary stage is, in most cases, a destructive and debilitating. It consists in the evolution of chronic disease, and symptoms related to organ weaker for it, and can lead to death.
Syphilis can be avoided with the use of condoms and treated with the use of penicillin: procedures that avoid this range of complications.
It is recommended that the infected do not have sex during this period.
Women pregnant or wishing to become pregnant should take the exam in order to prevent possible contamination of the baby.
Prevention
- If you find that carries syphilis, avoid all sexual contact unprotected (always use a condom). Talk to your partner about it so that it is aware of the disease because the transmission may be easier during the primary and secondary (see "symptoms").
- Using a condom is essential in any sexual relationship with a new person. It is important to know that more and more people become carriers of syphilis (see "Statistics") and recall that the disease is a true gateway to the AIDS virus. Of course, loyalty to your partner, after making a combined screening for all STIs, remains the best and safest solution.
- Finally, it is important that a pregnant woman can pass syphilis to her fetus, so ask for advice to your gynecologist to prevent such transmission.