Syphilis is one of the most widespread and terrible diseases of the 20th century. For a time, the disease was the cause of death of a large number of people. In Russia, entire counties suffered from the infection, and in the army every fifth soldier was infected. This is a classic sexually transmitted disease that is mainly transmitted sexually or in utero. But it is possible to get infected using personal hygiene items, from bites, during blood transfusion. The disease can proceed in a latent form for decades, gradually moving from one stage to another, terrifying with its symptoms and external manifestations.
Pathogen
Chancre, inflammation of the lymphatic vessels, syphilitic roseola (spotted syphilis), papules, nodules and pustules are just some of the external manifestations of primary and secondary syphilis. But the real culpritdamage to the skin, internal organs and systems is spirochete - pale treponema (Treponema pallidum). The microorganism was discovered only in 1905. It has an elongated body and fibril shape, due to which it is capable of spiral movements. That is, the pathogen can freely move inside the host organism, penetrating into intercellular junctions and affecting internal organs, blood vessels and human tissues.
Secondary syphilis
The disease has three stages. Primary syphilis is characterized by the gradual introduction of the pathogen into the body. At the site of the introduction of treponema, a hard chancre is formed - a painful ulcer. After 6-10 weeks after infection, a systemic lesion of the body occurs. All internal organs suffer (including bones, nervous, lymphatic system, hearing and vision). It was during this period that a repulsive rash appears on the body, one of the varieties of which is syphilitic roseola. Photos of patients whose skin is covered with rashes look unpleasant. The rash occurs because the microbe is partially destroyed under attack by cells of the immune system and releases endotoxin, a dangerous poison with angioparalytic properties. This symptom of syphilis is found in 80% of all cases in the secondary period.
The body usually manages to weaken the pathogen somewhat, as a result of which the disease passes into a latent (hidden) stage. The rash disappears for a while, only to reappear soon after. The reproduction of the microorganism is restrained, but the weakening of the immune system leads torelapses. This is because the immune system alone is not able to completely defeat the disease. In addition, the temperature of the human body is ideally comfortable for the life of the microbe. The secondary period can last from 2 to 4 years, proceeding in waves and acquiring new clinical symptoms.
What skin diseases can be confused with?
Syphilitic roseola is similar to other skin pathologies that are characterized by a pink rash:
- Toxic dermatitis as a reaction to medication, food, household chemicals. The difference between allergic spots is that they tend to merge, itch, merge with each other.
- Pityriasis rosea appears as symmetrical round spots. This is a benign viral skin lesion that resolves on its own without treatment. In this case, there is always a maternal plaque (up to 1 cm in diameter), which is detected first and has a larger size. The remaining elements appear gradually, their shape and size may be different and different from each other.
- Marbling of the skin can occur in response to hypothermia in perfectly he althy people. Expanded capillaries simply shine through the skin, giving it a marbled hue. Syphilitic roseola after vigorous rubbing of the integument becomes even brighter, and the marble pattern, on the contrary, disappears.
- Pityriasis versicolor patches are also pink, but sometimes take on a café-au-lait shade. They are located on the back, chest andmore often on the upper half of the body. They originate from the mouths of the hair follicles, strongly flaky, unlike the manifestations of syphilis.
- The presence of pubic lice is indicated by bite marks from flatheads. In the center of the spots of gray-violet color, you can always notice a small dot. Footprints do not disappear when pressed.
- With rubella, a rash is found not only on the body, but also on the face. It rises slightly above the integument, strikes the pharynx and disappears on the third day. Body temperature rises, conjunctivitis occurs, lymph nodes increase.
- Measles is also characterized by high fever, swelling of the eyelids, inflammation of the lining of the upper respiratory tract, difficulty breathing and conjunctivitis. The rash is large, prone to confluence, white dots are visible on the mucous membranes of the mouth and gums.
- Rapid and typhoid fever occurs with severe general intoxication of the body, fever and weakness. If you smear the spots with an alcohol solution of iodine, they become darker.
Syphilitic roseola: differential diagnosis
Roseola caused by syphilis must be distinguished (differentiated) from other types of spotted rash, similar in appearance. And also from insect bites, allergies, infectious diseases (herpes, gonorrhea). The causes of other rashes are completely different, as are the features of the manifestation, appearance, general symptoms and methods of treatment.
Using laboratory methods, it can be determined that the rash is syphilitic roseola. Dif. diagnosis is carried out on the basis of serological blood tests by detecting antigens and antibodies to the pathogen. A 100% result is given by the analysis of the RIF. To do this, the blood of a rabbit infected with a pathogen and a special serum are added to the patient's blood taken for research. When observed in a fluorescent microscope, the presence of treponema in the body confirms the reflection - fluorescence. The absence of infection is manifested by a yellowish green glow.
Interesting fact: if a patient is injected intravenously with 3 to 5 ml of nicotinic acid (0.5% solution), the spots become brighter. Also of great importance for the diagnosis is the presence of other symptoms of secondary syphilis. As well as the formation of a hard chancre at the stage of primary syphilis.
Other symptoms of illness
Syphilitic roseola appears as rounded pink or red spots. Symptoms of secondary syphilis also include:
- small-focal or diffuse alopecia (occurs in 20% of patients and disappears with the start of therapy);
- “Venus necklace” around the neck, rarely on the shoulders, limbs and lower back;
- papular syphilis;
- pustular syphilis;
- vocal cord injury and hoarse voice.
Rash Symptoms
Syphilitic roseola, photos of which are presented in large numbers on the Internet, is characterized by certain signs:
- size of individual spots up to 1 cm;
- rashes have unclearcontours;
- the surface of the spots is smooth, asymmetrical;
- outlines are rounded and asymmetrical;
- no elements merged with each other;
- spots do not protrude above skin level;
- do not grow on the periphery;
- when pressed, a slight lightening of the shade is possible, but not for long;
- no pain, peeling and itching.
Long-lasting roseola may acquire a yellow-brown hue. By themselves, rashes are not harmful and do not pose a danger. However, they are a signal to the body that it needs urgent help.
Syphilitic roseola: localization of the rash
The limbs and lateral surfaces of the body (chest, abdomen) are considered to be the favorite places for spots. May be on the folds of the limbs, affect the upper part of the legs. Roseola rarely occurs on the feet, hands and face. The distribution of the rash is disordered and profuse. It appears gradually, reaching the final development for 8-10 days. Syphilitic roseola has varieties depending on the appearance of the spots.
Types of syphilitic roseola
There are the following types of roseola:
- fresh (appears for the first time), the most abundant rash of bright color;
- urticaria, or edematous (similar to urticaria);
- annular syphilitic roseola is characterized by spots in the form of rings or half rings, arcs and garlands;
- with recurrent or confluent roseola, the size of the spots is usually muchlarger, and the coloration is more intense, but their number is less.
Very rarely, patients develop scaly roseola, covered with lamellar scales, and also similar to blisters, rising above the skin.
Erythematous syphilitic tonsillitis often develops on the mucous membranes. Confluent erythema of a dark red color, sometimes with a bluish tint, appears on the pharynx. Their contours sharply border on he althy integuments of the mucous membrane. The patient does not feel pain, he does not have a fever, and his general condition is practically not disturbed.
Treatment
If you suspect a syphilitic nature of the rash, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Diagnosis is handled by a dermatologist or venereologist.
The rash disappears spontaneously after a few days (sometimes months), gradually changing the shade. Subsequently, no traces remain on the skin. It is not the rashes that need to be treated, but their causes. Fortunately, the causative agent of syphilis is a rare microorganism that has not yet developed resistance to antibiotics. Syphilitic roseola, which is treated with conventional penicillin (sodium s alt), is prone to exacerbation. Already after the introduction of the first intramuscular injections, the rash acquires a rich red hue. The patient may have a fever. Moreover, spots are formed on those parts of the body where they were not previously. As part of complex therapy, as decades ago, intravenous infusions of arsenic compounds (Novarsenol, Miarsenol) are used. Solutions of iodine s alts and other auxiliary preparations are also used. Treatmentnecessarily takes place in stationary conditions, which allows you to constantly monitor the patient's he alth.
Features of therapy
Treatment should be carried out in courses, alternate with breaks and be long. The treatment regimen is selected individually, taking into account the clinical features of the disease. To eliminate the rash, lubrication with mercury ointment, washing with saline solutions, as well as thorough hygienic skin care is prescribed.
Prognosis for recovery
Syphilis is successfully treated in he althy and young people with a strong body. It is always difficult to predict a positive result in children and the elderly. The patient's condition can be aggravated if he has serious heart damage, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, liver disease, rickets in history. In addition, the patient should stop drinking alcohol and limit smoking during treatment.
Consequences of infection
It is important to understand that syphilitic roseola is a rash that appears when the disease is already becoming serious. If treatment is not started at this stage, this will lead to irreparable consequences, irreversible damage to the brain and spinal cord, circulatory system and other internal organs. Syphilis will smoothly and imperceptibly move into the third stage, which is absolutely not amenable to therapy. With tertiary syphilis, which develops in 40% of patients, it is only possible to maintain the vital functions of the body and stabilize the condition. Like many venereal diseases,syphilis often results in disability or death.
Prevention
Syphilis is a serious disease that can only be treated in its early stages. A rash - syphilitic roseola - testifies to systemic lesions, when therapy is less and less effective every day. The description of preventive measures is standard for all types of sexually transmitted infections. First of all, you should avoid promiscuity, casual sexual contacts. The barrier method of contraception is still the main method of precaution. Using condoms, a person not only protects himself from infection, but also protects his sexual partner from possible infection. After all, not every person is 100% sure that he is completely he althy, given that some diseases have a long incubation period without any symptoms.
