Syphilis
Background
- Syphilis is caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum.
- Usually sexually transmitted
- Causes a wide range of systemic manifestations that are characterized by episodes of active disease interrupted by periods of latency
- Approximately 30% of asymptomatic contacts examined within 30 days of exposure have infection
Pathogenesis
- Spirochetes penetrate intact mucous membranes or microscopic dermal abrasions.
- Transmission through sexual contact with infectious lesions, infection in utero, blood transfusion, and organ transplantation
- Blood from a patient with incubating or early syphilis is infectious.
- Characterized by multiple stages separated by periods of latency: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary
Clinical Features
Primary Syphilis
- Primary lesion appears after an incubation of 2-6 weeks
- Single painless papule that becomes eroded and indurated, cartilaginous consistency on palpation
- Minority of patients can have multiple lesions or atypical appearance
- Occurs at point of contact: penis, rectum, mouth, external genitalia, cervix, or labia
- Heals in 4-6 weeks
- Regional lymphadenopathy that is painless and firm
Secondary Syphilis
- Characterized by generalized mucocutaneous lesions and lymphadenopathy but can also be found in other tissues[1]
- Skin lesions are usually maculopapular, pale red or pink, non-pruritic, discrete, and distributed on the trunk and proximal extremities. They may be subtle.
- They progress to more wide spread papular lesions that frequently involve the palms and soles.
- Appears 6-8 weeks after the chancre heals and subsides within 2-6 weeks
- Healing chancre may still be present in ~15% of cases. The stages may overlap more frequently in HIV patients. [2]
- In intertriginous areas, papules can enlarge to produce broad, moist, pink or gray-white infectious lesions called condylomata lata
- CSF abnormalities are detected in as many as 40% during this stage. CNS involvement can be symptomatic or asymptomatic.
- Constitutional symptoms may accompany or precede secondary syphilis. Can include: sore throat, fever, weight loss, malaise, anorexia, headache, and meningismus
- Less common complications include: hepatitis, nephropathy, gastritis, proctitis, rectosigmoid mass arthritis, periositis, optic neuritis, iritis, uveitis, pupillary abnormalities
Differential Diagnosis
Workup
Treatment requires antimicrobial therapy. Advanced stages require a prolonged course due to the slow growth time of T. pallidum.
Management
Early Stage
This is classified as primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis less than one year.
Treatment Options:
- Penicillin G Benzathine 2.4 million units IM x 1
- Repeat dose after 7 days for pregnant patients and HIV infection
- Doxycycline 100mg oral twice daily for 14 days as alternative
Late Stage
Late stage is greater than one year duration, presence of gummas, or cardiovascular disease
Treatment Options:
- Penicillin G Benzathine 2.4 million units IM weekly x 3 weeks
- Doxycycline 100mg oral twice daily for 4 weeks as alternative
Neurosyphilis
There are 3 Major options with none showing greater efficacy than others:
- Penicillin G 3-4 million units IV every 4 hours x 10-14 days
- Penicillin G 24 million units continuous IV infusion x 10-14 days
- Penicillin G Procaine2.4 million units IM daily + probenecid 500mg oral every 6 hours for 10-14 days.
- Alternative:
- Ceftriaxone 2gm IV once daily for 10-14 days
- Desensitization to the penicillin allergy is still the preferred method of treatment for patients with early and late stage disease (especially during pregnancy)
Disposition
See Also
Source
- Emedicine