A sexually-transmitted disease, with symptoms in the early
contagious stages being a sore on the genitalia, a rash,
patches of flaking tissue, fever, a sore throat, and sores in
the mouth or anus. Causative Organism:
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted
infectious disease caused by the
bacterium Treponema pallidum. |
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| Manifestations of primary syphilis:
a) hard chancre (a chancre, is a small blister
-like sore about 0.5 in (13 mm) in size) and
b) regional lymphadenitis
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Manifestations of secondary syphilis
-- Lesions generally begin 6-8 weeks after
the appearance of the initial chancre and
may overlap the time when the chancre
is still present.
-- The principal manifestations of 2° syphilis
are skin and mucous membrane lesions, as
well as manifestations of systemic disease
Skin and mucous membrane lesions:
- Skin lesions vary from macular, papular,
or occasional pustular and nodular type rashes.
Can occur on the palms and the soles.
- Patchy alopecia
- Condyloma lata - moist, flat, confluent
plaques (see image bottom - left)
- Mucous patches
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| Tertiary or late syphilis is a
noncontagious but highly
destructive phase of syphilis
which may take many years to
develop; it may manifest itself
in several forms:
Late benign or gummatous syphilis
is the most common form of 3° syphilis.
-- It develops in 15% of untreated cases
within 1-10 years after infection.
-- Gummas are nodular lesions
characterized by a granulomatous inflammation.
-- Gummas may be in any organ.
Cardiovascular syphilis
-- 10% of untreated syphilis cases develop
this 10-40 years after initial infection.
-- The basic lesion is an aortitis consisting
of necrosis resulting from thickening and
hardening of the vasa vasorum. -- The elastic
tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue -- This
is manifested by:
Neurosyphilis
-- Symptoms of neurosyphilis are expressed
only in approximately 8% of untreated cases
and then only 5-35 years after infection.
Invasion of the CNS occurs early when
generalized dissemination occurs (2° syphilis).
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