Lues Congenita or Syphilis
Lues Congenita or Syphilis Definition
L?es Cong?nita, more popularly known as Syphilis, is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a gram-negative bacterium called Treponema pallidum spirochete. Syphilis may not necessarily be contracted through sexual contact. Cases have been documented wherein the infection is passed from mother to offspring in the utero.
Lues Congenita or Syphilis Diagnosis
Diagnostic serological testing often leads to a diagnosis of syphilis. Modern methods include Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDLR) tests, both of which are routinely used in screening for blood donors. Neurosyphilis is usually diagnosed when elevated amounts of leukocytes in the CSF and high protein concentration in the syphilis infection are found.
Lues Congenita or Syphilis Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms are variable for L?es Cong?nita. Manifestations differ according to the type of stage of the disease. Syphilis acquired through direct sexual contact is known as primary syphilis. Within 10-90 days after contact with the infected person, a skin lesion appears at the point of contact (usually in or around the genitalia, but may appear elsewhere in the body). Known as ?chancre?, the lesion appears as a firm, painless ulceration of the skin, often in the vagina, penis, or rectum. The chancre may persist from 4 to 6 weeks, and often heals on its own. The secondary form of this disease manifests roughly 6 to 8 weeks after the primary infection. Symptoms include symmetrical reddish rashes on the trunk and extremities. These rashes can appear on the palms and soles. In moist portions of the body, the rash develops into condylomata lata, or white lesions that are flat and broad in appearance. Mucous patches may also be seen in the mouth or on the genitalia. These lesions contain treponeme organisms and are therefore infectious. Secondary syphilis is the most contagious form. Latent syphilis does not manifest with signs or symptoms but require proof of the disease through serological testing. Late syphilis is further classified as early or late, the latter being less contagious than the former. Tertiary syphilis occurs within 1-10 years after initial infection. In some cases, it can even take up to 50 years to manifest. Tertiary syphilis is marked by the development of soft, tumor-like balls of inflammation called granulomas. These are chronic and indicative of a failure of the immune system to fight the infection. This stage can have diverse neurological complications, including personality changes, emotional fluctuations, hyperactive reflexes, and Argyll-Robertson pupil. Cardiovascular complications may also occur. Examples are syphilitic aortitis, aortic aneurysm, aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva, and aortic regurgitation. Neurosyphilis, which can occur at any stage, affects the CNS, or the central nervous system.
Lues Congenita or Syphilis Treatment
A standard treatment for syphilis is penicillin, or more specifically, penicillin G. Penicillin has a high rate of success in curing the infection, with strong efficacy in prenatal or early stage treatment. Patients who are allergic to penicillin may be treated alternatively with oral tetracycline or doxycycline. Ceftriaxone may also be considered.