Syphillis

Question 1

Signs and symptoms

Answer 1

Chancre, fever, rash, stroke, nervous system deterioration; can imitate many other diseases

Question 2

Causative agent

Answer 2

Treponema pallidum a spirochete

Question 3

Pathogenesis

Answer 3

Primary lesion, or chancre, appears at site of inoculation, heals after 2-6 weeks; T. Pallidum invades the blood vessel system and is carried throughout the body, causing fever, rash, mucous membrane lesions; damage to brain, arteries and peripheral nerves occurs years later

Question 4

Epidemiology

Answer 4

Sexual contact with infected partner, kissing, trans placental passage

Question 5

Treatment and prevention

Answer 5

Treatment: antibiotics
Prevention: abstiene, monogamous relationships, correct use of condoms

Question 6

Stage of disease

Answer 6

Primary: firm painless ulcer (hard chancre) at site of infection; lymph node enlargement; infectious
Secondary: rash, aches, and pains; rash and mucous membrane lesions; infectious
Latent: no signs or symptoms; infectious early yes, late no
Tertiary: gummas, damage to large blood vessels, eyes, nervous system; mental illness; infectious, no