11 Questions
What is the incubation period of Syphilis?
10 days to 3 months
What is the primary mode of transmission of Syphilis?
Direct sexual contact with the Syphylitic sore
What is the characteristic of the rash in the secondary stage of Syphilis?
Red, brown, rough spots on palms and soles of feet
What is the duration of the primary stage of Syphilis?
3-4 weeks
What is the characteristic of the latent stage of Syphilis?
No visible symptoms
When does the secondary stage of Syphilis occur?
1 week to 6 months
What is the typical time frame after infection when Tertiary Syphilis appears?
10-30 years
What is the primary treatment for Syphilis?
Penicillin
What is the purpose of repeating the VDRL test at the 36th week of pregnancy?
To detect the disease acquired after the initial visit
What is the consequence of untreated Syphilis in pregnancy?
Abortion or Preterm labor
What is the name of the disease that can be passed to the fetus after the 4th month of pregnancy?
Congenital Syphilis
Study Notes
Syphilis: The Great Pretender
- Also known as Sy, Bad Blood, or The Pox
- Caused by the bacterium Treponema Pallidum
Classification and Transmission
- Bacterial infection
- Mode of transmission: direct sexual contact with a syphilitic sore, vaginal, oral, or anal sex, and perinatal transmission during delivery (Congenital Syphilis)
Incubation Period and Symptoms
- Incubation period: 10 days to 3 months
- Symptoms first appear at 21 days
- Primary Stage:
- Painless chancre on penis, vagina, anus, rectum, or mouth, lasting for 3-4 weeks
- Secondary Stage:
- Maculopapular rash, marking the start of the second stage
- Rash may not be itchy
- Red, brown, rough spots on palms and soles of feet
- Patchy hair loss
- Sore throat
- Lymphadenopathy/Lymphadenitis (swollen lymph nodes)
- Fever
- Headache
- Weight loss
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Latent Stage:
- No visible symptoms
- Dormant stage
- Early Latent: infection within the past 12 months
- Late Latent: infection more than 12 months ago
- Tertiary Syphilis:
- Appears 10-30 years after infection
- Affects brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints
Pharmacologic Management
- DOC: Penicillin
- 2.4 mu IM single dose (preferred early treatment)
- Oral dose for 6 months for severe cases
Nursing Considerations for Pregnant Mothers
- Complications: abortion and preterm labor
- Infection can be passed to the fetus after the 4th month of pregnancy (Congenital Syphilis)
- VDRL (Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory) test:
- Conducted on the first prenatal visit
- Repeated on the 36th week
- Procedure: obtain a blood sample to test for antibodies against the antigen produced by the bacteria
- If the result is positive, administer treatment (Penicillin)
This quiz covers the causes, symptoms, and transmission of syphilis, including its incubation period, modes of transmission, and primary and secondary stages.
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