subject: Syphilis Cases That Will Help Us Determine The Intensity Of The Infection [print this page] The earliest reports of Syphilis go as far back to the end of the fifteenth century in Europe, when the return of Columbus from the New World gave rise to a theory that Syphilis was brought to Europe by his men. One more theory is that Syphilis has been around in Europe and Asia prior to the fifteenth century yet became common only as urban dwelling became more common.
The number of new syphilis cases in the U.S. has remained fairly stable in contrast to Gonorrhea. The relative stableness in the occurrence of syphilis is impressive since the epidemiology of the two conditions is quite related, and concurrent infections usually are not unusual. Several states stopped the requirements for premarital syphilis tests due to the fact very few cases were discovered. Currently, the population most vulnerable is economically disadvantaged inner city residents, specifically drug-using prostitutes of both sexes.
The causative factor of syphilis is a gram-negative spirochete, Treponema pallidum. Thin and tightly coiled, it stains badly with the typical bacterial stains. It lacks the enzymes necessary to build several complex molecules. Therefore, it relies on the host for many of the compounds essential for life. The virulent stains have been effectively cultured only in cell structures, which is not very helpful for regular clinical diagnosis. Independent stains of T. pallidum are responsible for distinct tropically common skin diseases just like yaws; and these ailments are not sexually transmitted. Syphilis is transfered by sexual contact of all types, by way of syphilitic infections of the genitals or other areas of the body.
The incubation period average to three weeks but can change from two weeks to a number of months. The disease evolves throughout some recognized stages. In the prime levels of the condition, the preliminary sign is a small, hard-based chancre or sore, which often shows up at the site of the infection. The chancre is pain-free and an exudates of serum shapes in the center. This fluid is highly infectious and evaluation with a darkfield microscope exhibits several spirochetes. In a few weeks, this lesion disappears. None of these symptoms leads to any stress. The truth is, many women are completely oblivious of the chancre, which is frequently on the cervix. In men, the chancre at times develops in the urethra and is not obvious. With this phase, bacteria enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system, that distribute them broadly in the body.
Numerous weeks following the principal phase, the disease enters the secondary stage, recognized largely by skin rashes of different appearance. In some cases, the main chancre may still show up. Other signs and symptoms observed are the losing of patches of hair, malaise, and slight fever. The rash is broadly distributed on the skin and is also present in the mucous membranes of the cervix, throat, and mouth. At this time, the lesions of the rash contain several spirochetes and are very infectious. Dentists and other health care staff getting into contact with fluid from all of these lesions can become infected by the spirochete getting into through small breaks in the skin. Secondary syphilis is a delicate disease; the vast majority of the patients identified as having this stage can remember no lesions at all. To avoid any of these complications, it would be a good idea to get regular tests from STD clinics so as to prevent the illness all together.
Syphilis Cases That Will Help Us Determine The Intensity Of The Infection
