SYPHILIS

Presented By: Marc John T. Penas

 WHAT IS SYPHILIS?

• Syphilis is a sexually transmitted

infection that can cause serious
health problems if it is not
treated.
• Syphilis is divided into stages
(primary, secondary, latent, and
tertiary).
 PRIMARY SYPHILIS

• Symptoms for the first stage normally appear 10

days to 3 months after you’re exposed to syphilis.
You might notice that the lymph nodes near your
groin are enlarged.
• A person with primary syphilis generally has a sore or
sores at the original site of infection. These sores
usually occur on or around the genitals, around the
anus or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth.
These sores are usually (but not always) firm, round,
and painless.
 SECONDARY SYPHILIS

• This stage begins 6 weeks to 6 months after

you’re exposed. It may last 1 to 3 months.
• People with secondary syphilis usually get a
rosy "copper penny" rash on the palms of
their hands and soles of their feet and
fever. They may also have different rashes
on other parts of their body.
• People may have moist, wart-like
lesions in their groin, white
patches on the inside of their
mouth, swollen lymph glands, fever,
hair loss, and weight loss.
•  The signs and symptoms of
primary and secondary syphilis can
be mild, and they might not be
noticed. 
 LATENT STAGE

• The latent (hidden) stage of syphilis

is a period of time when there are no
visible signs or symptoms of syphilis.
• Asymptomatic
 TERTIARY SYPHILIS

• This is the final, most severe stage of

syphilis. It can appear 10 to 30 years
after the initial infection.
• You might experience permanent organ
damage and death.
​
 CAUSATIVE AGENT

• Syphilis is a chronic infectious disease

caused by the spirochaete Treponema
pallidum.
• Syphilis is usually transmitted by sexual
contact or from mother to infant,
although endemic syphilis is transmitted
by non-sexual contact in communities
living under poor hygiene conditions.
 MODE OF INFECTION

Direct:
• 1. Sexual intercourse with infected partner.
• 2. Close contact with a syphilitic person e. g. kissing.
• 3. Touching a syphilitic lesion, e. g. doctors, nurses.
• 4. Blood transfusion from a syphilitic donor.
Indirect
• 1. Using infected materials, e. g. cups, spoons. . etc.
• 2. Unsterilized medical instruments, e. g. needles.
 RISK FACTOR YOU’RE AT
HIGHER RISK OF GETTING
SYPHILIS

• -Unprotected sex
• -Multiple sex partners
• -HIV
• -Man to man
 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• The rash usually won't itch and it is

sometimes so faint that you won't notice
it. Other symptoms you may have can
include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore
throat, patchy hair loss, headaches,
weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue
(feeling very tired).
Also syphilis is one of the
major public threat because
it can cause serious long term
problem such as “arthritis,
brain damage and blindness”
 SYPHILIS DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

Your doctor will need to do a physical exam. They might give you
tests including:

• Blood tests. quick test at your doctor’s office or a public health

clinic can diagnose syphilis.

• Cerebrospinal fluid tests. If your doctor thinks you might have

neurosyphilis, they’ll test fluid taken from around your spinal
cord.

• Darkfield microscopy. Syphilis bacteria are visible through a

microscope in fluid taken from a skin sore or lymph node.
 S Y P H I L I S T R E AT M E N T

Syphilis is curable with quick diagnosis and treatment. But

if it’s treated too late, it can permanently damage your
heart and brain even after the infection is gone.
If you've had syphilis for less than a year, one dose of
penicillin is usually enough to kill the infection. If you’re
allergic to penicillin, you might get another antibiotic
instead, like doxycycline. If you’re in a later stage of the
disease, you’ll need more doses.
• If you’re pregnant and allergic to penicillin, your doctor
will probably have you undergo a process called
desensitization, which will let you take the drug safely.
 MANAGEMENT TREATMENT

Don’t have sexual contact until the infection is

completely gone. Your sexual partners should also
be tested and, if necessary, treated.
• Some people with syphilis have an immune system
reaction called a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
several hours after their first treatment. This
might include fever, chills, headache, upset
stomach, rash, or joint and muscle pain. These
problems usually go away within 24 hours.