The Great Imitator: Syphilis

Health and Disease

Taken from :

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_syphilis/clues.html

Venereal syphilis

Overview

Venereal Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by the Treponema palladium bacterium. It is the most recent addition, and most commonly recognized member of the Syphilis family. Unlike its distant cousins, venereal syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that effects adults more commonly than children, and it can be transmitted to congenitally to infants. Also, the STD causes neurological and cardiovascular damage that the other forms do not. Syphilis is known as the “Great Imitator” because its symptoms and manifestations in both soft tissue and bone mirror other diseases, making diagnosis problematic. Venereal syphilis tends to prevail in colder urbanized populations where the likelihood of anonymous sexual contact is higher. Is also prevalent is developing countries were access to health care is limited.

 

Signs and Symptoms

Acquired Syphilis

Acquired syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that has three distinct phases each with its own unique array symptoms.

 

 

Q: What disease was known by the French as “the English disease” and by the English and “the French disease”?

 

A: Syphilis

 

-A Trivial Pursuit question

Primary Stages:

             After an incubation period of 10-90 days, a small painless sore called a chancre will appear at the site of contact, either mouth, genitals or rectum. This marks the primary stage of syphilis. The sore will heal without treatment  in about a month.

 

Secondary Stages:

             After the chancre heals, anywhere from 2-6 weeks later the secondary symptoms will begin. At this point the bacteria has entered the blood stream and is traveling throughout the body. Symptoms include rash, fever, weight loss, muscle and joint pain, enlarged lymph nodes, and white, wart like patches of skin may appear on the genitals. Syphilis may also begin to attack the liver, eye, and kidneys and cause meningitis. Syphilis is most infectious during the primary and secondary stages

 

Late Stages:

             After the secondary stages subside, the infected individuals may go into a latent phase with no more outward symptoms, or they may progress to the late stage symptoms. These include poor motor control, heart conditions, senility, impotence, loss of feeling, and psychological problems.

Congenital Syphilis

Of the four treponemal diseases, only venereal syphilis can be transmitted congenitally. If a child is born with syphilis he or she will show severe symptoms by the age of two. The disease will affect the teeth, eyes, nerves, brain development, bones, liver, and kidneys. Without early treatment the child will die. Most cases of congenital syphilis can be prevented if the mother is treated early in her pregnancy.