Syphilis Serology Flashcards
(50 cards)
When was syphilis first reported in medical literature?
1495.
What bacterium causes syphilis?
Treponema pallidum subspecie pallidum.
How is syphilis transmitted?
By direct contact with an infectious lesion, across the placenta, and through blood transfusion.
What types of antigens are involved in syphilis?
Treponemal antigens (Reiter strain and Nichol strain) and Non-treponemal antigens (Wassermann antigens/cardiolipin and Lipoidal antigens)
What is the incubation period for syphilis?
10 days to 10 weeks.
What characterizes primary syphilis?
Localized chancre that appears 2-3 weeks after initial infection, with lymph node enlargement and antibody production occurring 1-4 weeks after the chancre appears.
What is the significance of serum tests in primary syphilis?
Serum tests for syphilis are positive in 90% of patients after 3 weeks, with predominantly IgM antibodies developing.
When does secondary syphilis typically occur?
6 to 8 weeks after the initial chancres appear.
What are the symptoms of secondary syphilis?
Systemic symptoms that last 4-6 weeks, characterized by a generalized rash and potential secondary lesions in the eyes, joints, or CNS.
What are common symptoms of syphilis?
Low-grade fever, myalgia, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, ‘moth-eaten’ alopecia.
What is the early latency stage of syphilis?
One in four individuals relapses into secondary syphilis.
What occurs during late latency of syphilis?
The patient is resistant to reinfection and to relapses.
What are symptoms of tertiary syphilis?
Symptoms occur 2-40 years after initial infection, gummas found throughout the body, syphilitic aortitis, aortic valve insufficiency, and thoracic aneurysm.
What is the appearance of lesions in tertiary syphilis?
Raised, gray-whitish lesions on mucous membranes.
What are condylomata lata?
Benign, painless, wart-like lesions mostly found in warm, moist regions. They are smooth, soft, and flat, varying in shape and size.
What type of antibodies are present in tertiary syphilis?
Antibodies are mostly IgG.
What is the latent stage of syphilis?
A stage with no signs or symptoms, contagious and generally begins after the second year of infection.
What is a trivia fact about CNS involvement in syphilis?
Approximately 80% of patients experience CNS involvement, which can result in paralysis or dementia.
What are complications of neurosyphilis?
Begins when the microbe invades the CSF, can cause blindness and senility, meningitis, tabes dorsalis, and general paresis.
What are symptoms of ocular syphilis?
Decreased visual activity and loss of vision, including Argyll Robertson pupil.
What are AR pupils?
AR pupils are smaller than normal and do not constrict when exposed to light. They do constrict when focused on a near object.
What cardiovascular issues are associated with syphilis?
Syphilitic aneurysms, dilated aorta, aortic valve regurgitation, and coronary artery narrowing.
What are the outcomes of congenital syphilis?
Infection of the fetus can cause late abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death, neonatal disease, or latent infection.
What factors influence the outcome of congenital syphilis?
The outcome depends on the stage of the mother’s disease and the age of the fetus at infection.
