Syphilis: Diagnostic and Treatment - Research Paper Example

Syphilis is on the rise. In this modern era, this old disease has become a real concern. If you have an active sex life, knowing what to look for and understanding the long term effects of syphilis is important in maintaining your health. This paper focuses on Syphilis, explaining its chain of infection, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures that are employed to detect the disease, and the different treatment methods that are available to cure it. It also focuses on abstinence as one of the safest ways to prevent oneself from getting the disease, another way being staying in a monogamous relationship with a partner that is known to be uninfected. In an age where nothing seems to be what it is, information truly is power. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is primarily spread through sexual contact, but can also be transmitted from mother to fetus while in the womb or during birth resulting to congenital syphilis. It usually starts out as a painless sore that can be found on the genital area, rectum, or the mouth. Without treatment, syphilis can result to irreversible damage to the brain, nerves or body tissues. This disease has many times been known as “the great imitator” because its many signs and symptoms are identical from those of other diseases. Sir William Osler stated that “The physician who knows syphilis knows medicine.” (Rudkin and Blasko, 2011) The causative agent for syphilis is an organism known as Treponema pallidum. This is a gram-negative spirochete and is a parasite. It ranges from 6-20 um, while its diameter ranges from 18-20 um. It is a microaerophilic agent and requires low concentrations of oxygen. This bacterium is corkscrew shaped and has no animal or environmental reservoirs. This organism is usually acquired and spread by close sexual contact, entering the host through openings in squamous or columnar epithelium. It gains access to the blood and lymph systems through mucus membranes. (Dandelin, 2009) Treponema pallidum has four known subspecies which cause different illnesses. The first is Treponema pallidum pallidum, which causes syphilis. The second one is Treponema endemicum, which causes endemic syphilis. The third is Treponema pallidum carateum, which has been known to cause pinta, which is a human skin disease endemic commonly found in Mexico, Central America and South America. The last sub specie is Treponema palidum pertenue which causes yaws. Yaws is a long-term infection that mainly affects the skin, bones and joints. (Doran and Nowadly, 2010) Humans are the only known reservoir for T. pallidum. The portal of entry into the host is mucus membranes. It is transmitted almost always through sexual contact with an infected partner. After the spirochetes pass the barrier, they are carried through the bloodstream to every organ of the body. About three to four weeks after the bacteria has gained entrance into the new host, a lesion will form at the point of contact, which is known as a chancre. It usually presents as a firm, painless, skin ulceration with a diameter of 0.3-3 cm in size. This lesion will refuse to go away for about five weeks then eventually will heal spontaneously. This is known as the primary stage. (Brown, 2011) About six weeks later, a localized cutaneous eruption may appear. This is the secondary stage, and there may be many different manifestations. The main characteristics of this stage are skin rash and mucus membrane lesions. There may be other symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and weight loss, feelings of body malaise, hair loss and even headache. At this stage, the infection spreads to the rest of the body. The rash may spread to the feet, the back, or the hands. Sometimes, the rashes that occur with syphilis are so small that they can go unnoticed. One of the dangers of this disease is that the signs and symptoms will resolve with or without treatment, which may lead one to think that the problem is gone; but without treatment, the infection will progress to the latent and possibly late stages of disease. (Dandelin, 2009) The last stage is the latent stage. There can either be the early latent stage, or the late latent stage. At the latent stage, as the name suggests, there are no lesions and the only way to know is through a reactive serologic test. If the person still goes untreated, the syphilis will remain. This stage can last for a long time, sometimes up to ten to twenty years. At this point, the disease has damaged other organs as well, such as the brain, nerves, heart, blood vessels, liver, and the joints. Though there is no indication of infection in the body of the sufferer, the disease at this point is highly communicable so sexual activities should be avoided. (Dandelin, 2011) As previously mentioned, syphilis can affect a fetus still in the womb. There is a risk of having a stillbirth, or birthing a baby who dies shortly after. If the baby survives and goes untreated, it may have serious problems within a short while. It may be developmentally delayed, or be at risk for seizures. Syphilis is diagnosed through microscopic examination of a chancre. The microscope has to be a special kind with a dark field that will show the tiny, spirochete bacteria. Another way to diagnose it is through blood tests. This method is accurate safe, and inexpensive. A low level of antibodies will possibly stay in the blood for months or even years after the disease has been successfully treated. This is especially important with pregnant women because if of the risk untreated syphilis carries to the unborn child. (Wikipedia, 2011) The treatment for syphilis is antibiotics. It is easy to treat and cure in its first stages. A single intramuscular injection of penicillin will cure the disease in someone who has had it for less than a year. If the time has been longer, then additional doses will be required; if the person is allergic to penicillin, other antibiotics such as doxycycline or tetracycline can be administered. There are no home cures or over-the-counter medications that can treat it, it’s important to go to a hospital or a clinic where this treatment is available. Treatment will kill the syphilis bacterium and prevent further damage, but it cannot repair the damage already done, that’s why it’s vital to come in early. If the infected person waits it may move on to another stage and there may be organ damage, which would be irreversible. (Greene, 2010) Once a person has syphilis and is treated, it’s not a guarantee that he/she may never get it again. After successful treatment, the person can still be susceptible. The sores can be hidden in the vagina, rectum, or mouth, so to a sex partner, it may be completely obvious that the other has syphilis. It’s recommended to talk to a health care provider to help determine if there is a need to be re-tested for syphilis after one has been treated. (Greene, 2010) Syphilis has infected millions of people worldwide, and some famous names include Franz Schubert, Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, Al Capone, to name a few. Syphilis is a disease that can infect anybody. The surest way to avoid transmission is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and who you know is uninfected. Some people think that it can be prevented by washing the genitals or douching after sexual contact, but this is not so. Any unusual discharge, especially in the groin area should be a signal to refrain from sex and to see a doctor immediately. WORKS CITED: Brown, W. J. (2011). Pathophysiology of Syphilis. Health Guidance. Retrieved from: http://w ww.healthguidance.com/entry/6784/1/Chapter-II—Pathophysiology of Syphilis.html Dandelin, S. (2011). Syphilis- Understanding the Four Stages of the Disease. Health care industry community. Retrieved from: www.thefreelibrary.com/Syphilis +-+Understanding+the+Four+Stages+of+the+Disease-a01073963523 Doran, C. & Nowadly, K. (2010). Treponema Pallidum. Retrieved from: http://www.treponema pallidum.homestead.com (April 30, 2011). Greene, H. (2010). Could That Rash be Secondary Syphilis? Health care industry Community. Retrieved from: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ Could+That+Rash+Be+Secondary+Syphilis%3f-a01074120163 Rudkin, S. E & Blasko, B. J. Syphilis. (2011). Syphilis. E Medicine Health. Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/syphilis/article_em.htm# (April 30, 2011). Wikipedia. (2011). Syphilis. Retrieved from: http: //www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syphilis (April 30, 2011.) Read More