Today, the diagnosis of syphilis is becoming a daily event in the practice of doctors of all speci alties. Every year the number of people who have secondary syphilis is increasing. According to numerous forecasts, in the coming years, an increase in the number of late forms of the disease is expected, which provoke a violation of the nervous system and internal organs. Secondary pathology begins to develop three months after human infection. It manifests itself in the form of a rash with a large number of vesicles, papules and pustules throughout the body. This is due to the fact that the infection begins to spread throughout the body with the blood flow, affecting the internal organs and systems of the body.
Description and characteristics of the disease
Syphilis is one of the STDs that has a chronic course. The causative agent of the disease is pale treponema. This disease goes through three stages of development: primary, secondary and tertiary. Secondary syphilis is the second stage in the development of pathology, which begins to manifest itself onthird month after human infection. During this period, the infectious agent rapidly spreads throughout the body, affecting all organs and tissues, as well as the central nervous system. The main sign of pathology is the spread of rashes in the form of papules, vesicles and other formations throughout the skin and mucous membranes.
In the presence of he althy immunity, pale treponema forms cysts in which it is in a passive state, which characterizes the latent period of the development of pathology. In case of violation of the immune system, the pathogen is activated and acquires a pathogenic form, a person has secondary recurrent syphilis. This stage of syphilis can take several years, periods of remission alternate with relapses. At the same time, skin rashes are observed in a person for several months, after which they disappear on their own for a while, and then reappear. Many doctors theoretically allow a spontaneous cure for a disease that depends on the functionality of the human immune system.
Causes of disease
The causative agent of venereal disease is Treponema pallidum. Infection of a person occurs when treponema penetrates through the skin (the integrity of which is broken), during sexual intercourse or through household contact. Some doctors talk about the possible penetration of pathogenic microorganisms through intact mucous membranes.
Secondary syphilis in men and women can occur in a latent form and be accidentally detected only during planneddiagnostics. In some cases, the disease in the first stage does not show symptoms, so a person is immediately diagnosed with a secondary pathology.
The causative agent of infection can only survive in the human body, outside it is sensitive to the influence of environmental conditions, therefore, it dies when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and chemicals, high temperatures, but low temperatures have no effect on it.
Classification of secondary syphilis
The disease goes through three periods of development:
- Fresh disease (observed after primary syphilis) lasts about four months. It is characterized by the appearance of a small rash.
- Latent ailment is caused by the disappearance of symptoms and lasts about three months.
- Recurrent secondary syphilis, in which the period of remission is replaced by relapse. The rash reappears, but it is less pronounced and larger. At this stage in the development of pathology, a person begins to lose hair. The number of relapses during the period of illness with secondary syphilis reaches four.
Symptoms and signs of illness
Usually, a secondary disease begins to show signs that are similar to the symptoms of SARS: an increase in body temperature, malaise, the development of myalgia. Seven days after this, benign rashes on the skin are observed, which are round in shape, clear boundaries, and can sometimes itch. The disease contains a large number of infectious agents, so a personposes a danger to others, as it can easily infect them.
Skin lesion
Signs of secondary syphilis are manifested by a rash, which can be of several types:
- Roseola (spotted syphilis) - round spots of a pink hue up to ten millimeters in size. The formations are most often located on the limbs and trunk, they appear in groups of twelve pieces a day for one week. Sometimes roseolas can peel off, become scaly or rise above the skin, resembling blisters. There may also be small red nodules on the hair follicles, large erythematous patches due to confluence of rash elements.
- Papules of a pink or red hue, reaching sizes up to five millimeters. The central part of the papules begins to peel off after a certain time, then the peeling spreads to its edges. After the papules disappear, hyperpigmentation appears in their place.
- Pustules occur infrequently. Typically, such formations are observed in alcoholics and drug addicts, as well as patients with tuberculosis. The rash is characterized by suppuration that dries out over time, forming a yellow crust.
- Pigments (leukoderma) develop on the neck in the form of round white spots. They are formed as a result of the action of the infectious agent on the nerve plexuses in the neck, which are responsible for the production of melanin.
Often, with this disease, there is a violation of the structure of the nail plates. In their bed are formedpapules or pustules that cause pain and inflammation. Nails become dull, thickened and cracked.
Symptoms of secondary syphilis are also manifested in enlarged lymph nodes that do not cause pain, hair loss, damage to the epithelium of the oral cavity and larynx. On the part of the internal organs, an increase in the liver occurs, gastritis develops, and the activity of the digestive tract is disrupted. The patient develops nephrosis, meningitis, periostitis, sleep is disturbed. Sometimes a person develops otitis, retinitis, pleurisy. When there is a suspicion of syphilis, it is urgent to contact a medical facility, as the person is a carrier of the infection.
Syphilis baldness
There are several types of hair loss in this pathology:
- Alopecia areata appears as a result of exposure to toxins on the hair follicles. In this case, the hair falls out on the head and eyebrows in small bunches. Eyelashes also often fall out.
- Diffuse alopecia appears due to the effect of the pathogen on the hypothalamus, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems, which are responsible for nourishing the hair. In this case, a person completely loses all the hair throughout the body.
With effective treatment, the hairline is fully restored within two months.
Injury to the epithelium and internal organs
Rashes on the oral mucosa are often the cause of infection transmission whenkissing, using hygiene products and cutlery. The causative agent of infection affects the tonsils, palate, larynx, tongue and surface of the cheeks. Because of this, a person often develops hoarseness of voice, swelling of the tonsils without the development of pain when swallowing.
Damage to internal organs occurs without symptoms, so their pathology is detected only during the diagnosis. Secondary syphilis affects all internal organs, provoking the development of many other diseases.
Surveying
The disease has a variety of symptoms. In medicine, it is recommended that all people who have a diffuse rash in combination with multiple lesions of the glands of the body be tested for syphilis. To do this, the detachable formations on the skin are taken for research and an RPR test is performed. It is also possible to perform a biopsy of the lymph nodes, puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid during the period of relapse. These diagnostic methods allow you to identify the causative agent of the infection.
With symptoms of damage to internal organs, additional consultation with a urologist, neurologist, otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist and others is required. Ultrasound, radiography, gastroscopy, pharyngoscopy, CT are prescribed as additional diagnostics.
Infectious agent test
The doctor also prescribes a test for syphilis, which shows serological reactions, such as TPHA or RIF. You can take it both in specialized clinics and in public medical institutions. ATin the latter case, the analysis is free of charge, but the time for obtaining results can be long, and not all hospitals have the appropriate equipment. If you need a quick result, it is recommended to contact a private laboratory.
Such a study is mandatory for pregnant women, as well as for workers in certain professions, such as medical cooks or military personnel. Also, the test is carried out before the surgical intervention. Venous blood is taken to test for infection.
Differential Diagnosis
Since the rashes in syphilis are similar to the rash characteristic of other skin pathologies, differential diagnosis is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. The doctor differentiates secondary syphilis with diseases such as typhus, smallpox, toxicoderma, psoriasis, tuberculosis, lichen planus, ecthyma, impetigo, genital warts, HPV, stomatitis, glossitis, as well as tonsillitis, thrush, leukoplakia and others. Based on the results of complex diagnostics, a tactic for treating pathology is being developed.
Therapy
Treatment of secondary syphilis involves the use of the same medications as in the primary disease. Most often it is an antibiotic of the penicillin series, which is prescribed in the form of injections. Treatment is carried out in a hospital, drugs are administered within 24 days. With intolerance to penicillin, tetracyclines can be used. Therapy for secondary syphilis also includes the use of the followingmedical supplies:
- Immunomodulators.
- Antihistamines.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Probiotics.
Rashes on the skin are treated with antiseptic solutions or iodine. In case of damage to internal organs, symptomatic treatment is used. Non-compliance with the doctor's prescriptions or premature termination of the use of drugs causes the transition of the pathology to the next stage, in this case, tertiary syphilis develops.
Forecast
Secondary syphilis is well treated, so therapy gives positive prognosis and results. In the absence of treatment, complications begin to appear, followed by the third stage of the pathology, which leads to death. Modern medicine has enough funds to successfully treat the disease.
Prevention
Prevention of secondary syphilis should be carried out in the following areas:
- preventive drug therapy;
- use of contraception;
- urgent treatment of primary syphilis.
For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to monitor personal hygiene, use your own cutlery. It is also recommended to periodically take tests for the presence of infection and to be examined by a doctor every six months.
For the purpose of prevention, doctors recommend:
- have one sexual partner;
- do not engage in casual intimate relationships;
- do not come into contact with a carrier of the infection;
- do not useother people's hygiene products, household and cutlery;
- do not use drugs;
- go to a doctor periodically;
- do not pierce, tattoo without using antiseptics.
When symptoms of the disease appear, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate. In specialized medical institutions, preventive measures are taken to prevent the transmission of infection by household means. To do this, the genitals must be treated with special disinfectants, then a special solution is injected into the urethra.
