SYPHILIS

• Syphilis


  Other Terms: Sy, Bad blood, The Pox, Lues Venereal, Morbus Gallicus
• Syphilis


  An acute, chronic infectious disease caused by spirochete and is acquired through sexual contact
• Etiologic Agent


  Treponema pallidum
• Source of Infection


  • Discharges from obvious or concealed lesions of the skin or mucous membrane
  • Semen
  • Blood
  • Tears
  • Urine
  • Mucous discharge from the nose, eyes, genital tract
• Source of Infection


  • Surface lesions
• Incubation Period


  Varies, but typically lasts about 3 weeks
• Period of Communicability


  Variable and indefinite
• Mode of Transmission


  • Sexual Contact
  • Indirect contact with the articles freshly soiled with discharges or blood
  • Transmission via placenta
• Clinical Manifestation


  • Primary: Painless chancre (sore) at site of entry of germs, swollen glands
  • Secondary: Rash can be macular, papular, pustular or nodular
  • Latent: Patient is asymptomatic for a few months
  • Late: Nails become brittle and pitted, Dormancy stage of bacteria, Varies from no symptoms to indication of damage to body organs such as brain and heart and liver
• Diagnostic Tests


  • Dark Field Illumination Test
  • Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test
  • Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test
  • CSF analysis
• Treatment Modalities


  • IM Penicillin G benzathine
  • Tetracycline
  • Doxycycline
• Nursing Considerations


  • Stress the importance of completing the treatment even after the symptoms subside
  • Practice universal precaution
  • In secondary syphilis, keep the lesions dry as much as possible
• Prevention and Control


  • Report cases to the Department of Health
  • Control prostitution
  • Require sex worker to have check up
  • Proper sex education