Ways, signs and likelihood of contracting syphilis. Infection with syphilis through domestic means - causative agent, incubation period, stages, treatment and prevention

All sexually mature individuals should know how syphilis is transmitted, since the venereal disease is characterized by severe damage to internal organs and can lead to disability or death. In terms of prevalence, the pathology ranks 3rd among all sexually transmitted infections.

Ways of transmission of syphilis infection

Depending on how syphilis is transmitted, the patient will experience corresponding symptoms. Causes treponema disease. The mucous membrane or skin is not a serious barrier for the microorganism. Penetration into the body of a healthy person occurs through scratches and microtraumas.

After infection, all human biological fluids will contain treponema, which makes the patient dangerous to others.

The mechanism of bacterial penetration depends on how syphilis is transmitted and through what route.

Sexual contact

Unprotected sexual intercourse is the main cause of widespread syphilis. The probability of infection ranges from 40 to 70%. If a person suffers from chronic diseases, has low immunity or other sexually transmitted infections, then the risk of infection reaches 90%.

You can get syphilis regardless of the type of sexual contact. Infection usually occurs during vaginal sex. The risk increases in the presence of mild chronic diseases. In women, this may be cervical erosion, cystitis or thrush. Men usually suffer from ureaplasmosis.

Unprotected oral sex is also dangerous to your health. Many people believe that through such contact the pathogen is not able to penetrate the body, but this is an erroneous assumption. A few weeks after exposure, syphilitic rashes will appear in the throat and mouth. During oral sex, treponemes penetrate into a healthy body through saliva or secretions from the genitals. Therefore, barrier contraceptives are necessary even during blowjob.

Anal intercourse is accompanied by severe trauma, so the infection can be transmitted to a sexual partner through the resulting cracks and scratches. Rashes and chancre in this area go unnoticed for a long time, so by the time the disease is diagnosed, the patient’s health is greatly deteriorated.

Infection with syphilis is possible even during a kiss. The likelihood of transmitting infection depends on whether there is a rash in the mouth. The risk of infection increases with repeated contact with a sick person, but once is enough to put your health at risk. Barrier contraceptives allow you to protect yourself as much as possible from negative consequences. They do not provide a 100% guarantee, but they reduce the risk by at least 90%.

Through the blood

Treponemas spread throughout the body through the blood. Therefore, organ transplantation from a sick patient or blood transfusion will lead to the development of an infectious process. There is a minimal chance of infection in this way; it does not exceed 2%. The reason for this is multiple checks and examinations before blood or internal organs are taken from a patient for transplantation.

A more likely method of infection is the use of one syringe or container for preparing a narcotic drug. Doctors have recorded cases where infection through blood occurred during a fight with multiple open wounds and the patient’s fluid getting ingested.

The blood of a patient with syphilis remains infectious throughout the course of the infection.

This means that the patient remains dangerous to other people. A minor injury to the mucous membrane, the use of unsterile medical instruments or manicure devices can cause a serious illness.

Skin rashes on the patient’s body, from which blood or clear liquid oozes, pose the greatest danger. A high concentration of treponemes accumulates there and through any microcrack they quickly enter a healthy body.

From mother to child

The disease can be transmitted vertically quite successfully. Infection of a baby is possible even during the prenatal period. Treponemas quickly overcome the placenta, so the baby appears with a congenital form of syphilis. If complications occur, stillbirth or death of the baby occurs in the womb. With this method of infection, there is a high risk of miscarriage, especially at 6 months of pregnancy.

If the child was born alive, then syphilis transmitted from the mother will negatively affect its development. It is more difficult for children to fight treponema because their body is not yet strong enough. Lack of treatment leads to disruption of all vital organs. The result is disability or mental retardation.

When infected with syphilis in late pregnancy, the treponemes may not have time to cross the placenta. In this case, infection can be avoided by Caesarean section, otherwise the baby will become infected during passage through the birth canal.

Through breast milk

Even after completing therapy during pregnancy, doctors advise women in labor to stop breastfeeding. Milk may contain pathogens, albeit in minimal quantities. This will be enough for the child to become infected. Women who have had syphilis are advised to stick to artificial feeding.

With the vertical method of transmission of the disease, the period at which the infection occurred is of great importance. Infection in early pregnancy carries the greatest danger.

Through non-disinfected instruments

Medical workers, cosmetologists, manicurists and all people who perform invasive procedures come into contact with vaginal discharge, saliva or blood are at risk of contracting syphilis. A high risk occurs when injury occurs with instruments that were used on a sick person.

The infection can spread to other patients due to negligence or disregard for established standards. If instruments have not been disinfected, there is a high risk of infection. In this case, employees are held criminally liable for violating job descriptions.

Treponemas are not resistant to sunlight, high temperature and lack of moisture. They cannot survive for a long time outside the human body. A prerequisite for the transmission of the disease is the presence of scratches or microcracks. Treponema cannot overcome the entire skin.

Household route of infection

The causative agent of household syphilis is the same treponema. They are not resistant to acids, antiseptic solutions and alkali. Based on this, doctors recommend taking preventive measures to prevent a dangerous disease.

The likelihood of syphilis occurring through household infection is minimal.

Healthy people do not experience this because they have a strong immune system. Infection occurs through contact and household contact with a sick person. Treponemas penetrate in places where there is a thin layer of horny epithelium, that is, through the mucous membrane (even whole) or damaged skin.

You can get sick when visiting a public swimming pool, bathhouse, sauna or using other people's personal hygiene products. From medical practice it is known that transmission of the disease is possible through:

towel;
dishes;
toothbrush;
razor;
syringes;
bed sheets;
personal belongings.

A patient who has been diagnosed with syphilis must use only personal belongings and warn all close people about this. The primary form of syphilis is considered the most dangerous in terms of infection; it lasts no more than 2 years if left untreated.

Small children are usually infected through household contact with sick adults or their peers. Parents need to ensure that children do not put other people's toys into their mouths, since you do not know anything about the health status of the other child. The symptoms of household syphilis are the same as with other methods of infection, ranging from minor diseases to serious necrotic processes.

Professional

Representatives of some professions are regularly at risk because they come into contact with genital secretions, saliva or blood of sick people. You can also become infected during an operation if blood gets into a wound on the surgeon’s body or into the mucous membrane during the process.

In the medical field, pathologists are also at risk. Before opening the body, they need to protect themselves and make sure there are no open cuts. Dentists can become infected with syphilis if there are ulcers or bleeding lumps in the patient’s mouth. In the absence of pain and acute inflammation, the patient may be refused admission so as not to endanger the doctor.

Treponemas are able to survive on the surface of instruments for some time. We are talking not only about medical equipment, but also about products used in cosmetology. Women in labor suffering from syphilis endanger the gynecologist and midwives. The infection is contained in the blood and secretions of the woman, as well as the child himself.

Infection of medical staff and representatives of other professions who come into contact with sick patients occurs quite rarely.

Doctors are aware of the existing risk, so they sterilize all instruments and reliably protect themselves from the penetration of bacteria.

What is the most common route of infection with syphilis?

Most often, people become infected with syphilis during sexual intercourse. Several centuries ago, it was believed that syphilis was a shameful disease that only affected immoral individuals. Now everyone understands the complexity of the situation. You can become infected with a sexually transmitted disease even when using someone else's personal hygiene products, while visiting a sauna or a bad hotel where the sheets are not changed.

Knowing how syphilis is transmitted, you can take measures and protect yourself from the negative consequences of the infection. To prevent the disease, it is necessary to use barrier contraceptives during sex and use local antiseptics to treat the genitals. Doctors recommend chlorhexidine or miramistin. These drugs are used topically after sexual intercourse; they reduce the risk of infection, but do not guarantee results. It is also recommended to undergo a full examination twice a year and see a venereologist.

Syphilis is a socially significant chronic infection that belongs to the group of diseases that are transmitted primarily through sexual contact. It is characterized by a long course, damage to organs and systems of the body and is capable of causing specific, irreversible damage to the brain, spinal cord and internal organs, which can result in disability and death. The only difference between domestic syphilis and sexual syphilis is the different route of transmission.

According to official government statistics, the country has seen a gradual decline in the number of new cases of disease and the number of cases of congenital syphilis. However, against this background, the number of patients with specific lesions of the central parts of the nervous system has increased almost 7 times, among which late forms of tertiary syphilis predominate.

How the disease is transmitted

Household syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, which belongs to the Spirochete family. It is a microorganism that has a spiral shape with uniform curls numbering from 8 to 12 and characteristic types of movement - translational, wave-like, rotational and angular.

Treponemas reproduce every 30-33 hours by transverse division into several segments, which grow in 60-90 minutes to become a full-fledged microorganism. They can exist without a cell wall (L-form), and under unfavorable conditions they can survive in a shell form (in the form of cysts). At low temperatures, the pale spirochete is easily preserved, but dies under the influence of ethyl alcohol even in a concentration of 50-55 ° C; when dried or heated to 55 ° C, it dies within 15 minutes, and during boiling - instantly.

The causative agent of household syphilis is very sensitive to the effects of alkalis, acids and antiseptic solutions. This is the basis for various methods of individual prevention of the disease through the use of 0.01% chlorhexidine bigluconate, Cidipol or Gebitan solutions.

The location of the primary focus and, accordingly, the initial signs of household syphilis depend on the method of infection. The transmission features are associated with the need for the pathogen to have certain living conditions - a humid environment and an appropriate temperature.

The most contagious are people who suffer, that is, the duration of the disease does not exceed 2 years. They are also contagious during the period of tertiary syphilis, when syphilitic granulomas (nodes, gummas) disintegrate in the subcutaneous tissue, bones, and internal organs with the formation of hidden and open ulcers.

Although the likelihood of contracting household syphilis is very low, it is not excluded. The pathogen can be transmitted through contact and household contact from sick people to healthy people and penetrate into those parts of the body where the layer of horny epithelium is quite thin, that is, through damaged skin or mucous membranes (even intact ones). Infection occurs through shared use of dishes, towels, washcloths, bed or underwear, toothbrushes, bathtubs, syringes (drug addicts), and saliva from kissing. In the latter case, this infection is possible, as a rule, only if there are syphilitic lesions in the oral cavity of the sick person.

Most often, children who are in direct contact with parents who have the first signs of the disease or rashes on the mucous membranes and/or skin become infected through household contact.

How does household syphilis manifest?

After the introduction of Treponema pallidum into the human body, a certain period of time (incubation period) passes until the first manifestations of the disease. Its duration can range on average from 2 weeks to 2 months.

Reducing the duration of the incubation period to 8 days is possible with re-infection or introduction of Treponema pallidum into the body from several entrance “gates”. These factors contribute to the faster spread of the infectious pathogen and the development of immune reactions. An increase in the duration of the incubation period (up to 6 months) is facilitated by the use of relatively low dosages of antibiotics (especially penicillin) at the time of infection for any other inflammatory diseases.

Different periods or stages of disease progression (in the absence of timely treatment) are characterized by specific symptoms of domestic syphilis, which differ from sexual syphilis only in the localization of the primary focus at the initial stage. There are syphilis:

Primary. At this stage, early symptoms of the disease appear.
Secondary. It is characterized by alternating infectious and inactive periods.
Tertiary, in which damage to organs and systems occurs. Currently it is extremely rare.

The primary stage of household syphilis

The primary period of syphilis. Genital erosive chancroid.

Develops after the end of the incubation period. Its main symptom is the development of a tissue defect, or syphiloma (chancre), on the skin or mucous membrane, on the lips, tonsils, and tongue. What does syphiloma look like? Syphiloma is a term that combines two primary forms of disease manifestation: ulcerative and erosive.

The ulcer or erosion has a rounded outline, saucer-shaped, smooth edges, a diameter from 2 mm (dwarf chancre) to 15 mm or more (giant chancre). The bottom of the primary defect is smooth and shiny, has a red or pink color, less often - grayish-yellow. It is covered with a serous discharge, which gradually dries out on the skin or in the area of the red border of the lips and forms a crust.

The features of such an ulcer are the absence of pain and the presence of a dense elastic infiltrate (edema) at its base. With the development of erosion or a shallow ulcer, the compaction is somewhat less pronounced. If a secondary infection occurs, scabs or necrosis may form. Painless, bright red ulcers with a moist surface form on the oral mucosa.

In typical variants of the course of household syphilis, 5-7 days after the appearance of chancre, the regional lymph nodes corresponding to this area enlarge (lymphadenitis). They are very dense, when palpated, they are painless, mobile, and not fused to each other or to the surrounding tissues. In more rare cases, the development of lymphangitis is possible - an inflammatory reaction of the lymphatic vessels, which are detected under the skin in the form of dense cords. Lymphadenitis and lymphangitis are not accompanied by an increase in body temperature or redness of the skin in this area.

By the end of the primary period, the concentration of the syphilis pathogen in the lymphatic system reaches its maximum. There is an active penetration of it into the blood and dissemination (spread) of treponema pallidum throughout the body. At this stage, the development of syphilitic polyadenitis is possible - an increase in multiple subcutaneous lymph nodes, not only regional, but in various parts of the body.

Erosion or a shallow ulcer without a pronounced infiltrate, located outside the genital organs, does not cause much concern in many patients with domestic syphilis and undergoes reverse development within 1 - 2 weeks with the formation of a scar or small compaction, and therefore many people go to a medical institution are not considered necessary. Large primary lesions with a pronounced hard infiltrate can persist for up to 2-3 months.

Secondary period

Secondary period of syphilis. Rosea rash.

The moment of massive entry of the pathogen into the blood in 95% of patients occurs without any subjective sensations, in the remaining 5% it is accompanied by high body temperature, general weakness, headaches and malaise. This stage is the beginning of the second period and is called.

The latter is characterized by typical multiple, even profuse polymorphic roseola rashes on the skin and mucous membranes. Roseolas are pale pink spots with rounded outlines. They are located randomly throughout the body and have no tendency to merge. In the absence of treatment, regression of the elements occurs independently within 3-4 weeks.

Secondary period of syphilis. Psoriasiform syphilide.

Secondary household syphilis occurs with periods of relapses, during which the patient is contagious. During the second and subsequent exacerbations, which can occur after 3-4 months, multiple, round-shaped dense papules (nodules) appear, vesicles (bubbles) are possible, and less often - pustules with purulent contents.

These elements appear on the torso, extremities, including the palmar and plantar surfaces, in the scalp, on the face, on the skin and mucous membranes of the genitals, oral cavity, around the anus in the folds of the skin, where wide weeping condylomas with unpleasant smell. On mucous membranes, roseola and papules occur in the form of separate elements and confluent ones.

The torso and limbs are characterized by lenticular (flat) densely elastic papules with a diameter of 3-5 mm, bluish-red or pinkish-red in color, having clear contours and not prone to merging. Features of this rash on the palms and soles are symmetry, brownish-brown color, the presence of dense swelling elements at the base, and the formation of skin cracks. As a result of the development of the papule, the stratum corneum of the epithelium in its center begins to gradually separate, forming a characteristic “Bieta collar” at the periphery of the element.

Common characteristics for all secondary manifestations of household syphilis are:

absence of signs of acute inflammatory process;
false (one type of elements, but at different stages of development) and true (elements of different types) polymorphism;
roundness of the shape of the elements, sharply defined boundaries, lack of tendency to merge and peripheral growth;
as a rule, there is no deterioration in the patient’s general condition and the absence of negative subjective sensations against the background of the appearance and development of rashes;
the content of a large number of pathogens in any elements of the rash (therefore, during the period of relapse, the sick person is infectious);
independent (without treatment) regression and disappearance of all elements in 2-3 months.

In addition to rashes, during the second exacerbation there are also pigmentation disorders and diffuse or focal hair loss on the head, in the eyebrows, mustache, beard, hoarseness, sore throat, “stuck” in the corners of the lips, general weakness and malaise. These symptoms disappear after 30-60 days. Subsequently, the disease remains asymptomatic for several years. During remission, in which there are no visual symptoms, diagnosis is only possible through serological (immunological) tests.

Information about how to contract syphilis will help you avoid infection by taking the danger seriously. It is important to assess risks based on medical research, and not on popular, often erroneous, beliefs.

Bacteria that cause syphilis infection and the stages of disease development

The causative agent of syphilis is Treponema pallidum. Its different forms cause different forms of the disease. Thus, the appearance in the body of the most common, spiral-shaped treponema pallidum causes the classic type of disease, and the L-form and cystic form contribute to the latent development of syphilis.
Contrary to existing belief, primary, secondary and tertiary syphilis, which is rare in the modern world, are not related to how many times the body is infected. These are forms of the disease that characterize the time during which the body exists under the influence of infection, as well as the degree of this influence.

Primary syphilis

At the initial stage of the disease, the causative agents of the disease are located mainly in the lymph, the conditions of existence in which are more comfortable for this microorganism than the environment of human blood. At this time, chancres may appear in different parts of the patient’s body - compacted ulcers formed from small redness on the skin. The appearance of such seals is the first sign of syphilis infection, while chancre can appear on the genitals, in the anus area, on the face, and less often on other parts of the body. In rare cases, chancre can be very large (about the size of a child’s palm) or, on the contrary, very small (about the size of a poppy seed), but they are almost never painful. The damaged chancre oozes liquid, which contains Treponema pallidum in high concentrations.
Primary syphilis cannot always be detected in a blood test, so treatment begins when the disease is suspected, even before a full and detailed examination of the disease.

Secondary syphilis

Secondary syphilis is a stage in which the infection occurs “in a circle”: from the chancre, the causative agents of the disease enter the blood. Due to their higher concentration (compared to the first stage), they remain in this environment, which is not very comfortable for them, and are spread throughout the body through the bloodstream, including getting on the skin a second time. The main characteristic feature of secondary syphilis is damage, inflammation and enlargement of the lymph nodes, but damage to internal organs, bone tissue and the central nervous system is not uncommon.
The secondary form of the disease, which is re-infection with syphilis inside the body, is accompanied by fever, headaches, and a general deterioration in well-being. Hearing or vision may be weakened, and bone pain may appear.
Primary and secondary forms of the disease suggest the likelihood of contracting syphilis not only through sexual contact, but also through domestic contact.

Tertiary syphilis

Tertiary syphilis appears several years after infection in the absence of proper treatment. At this stage, infection with syphilis is possible only through the placental route. All forms of tertiary syphilis are characterized by extremely severe destructive processes in the body.

Latent course of syphilis

In some cases, infection with syphilis and its primary stage does not cause any symptoms and therefore the patient does not see a doctor or receive treatment. The latent form of syphilis is rarely cured by taking antibiotics during the treatment of other diseases, but more often it manifests itself in the form of secondary syphilis.
The routes of infection with syphilis do not in any way affect the form in which the disease will manifest itself and the nature of its course.
The characteristics of treponema pallidum determine the possible methods of infection with syphilis and the method of treating the disease. So, this pathogenic microorganism quickly dies outside the body, and therefore there is an erroneous assumption that infection with syphilis without sexual contact and kissing is almost impossible. However, the causative agent of syphilis feels comfortable in any damp environment; wet handkerchiefs pose the greatest danger, but other methods of transmitting the disease are also possible.

Incubation period of syphilis and signs of the disease

From the moment of infection with syphilis until the first signs of syphilis infection appear, an average of 21 days pass. Often this is the period indicated in propaganda brochures and posters, but it should be remembered that this figure is not indicative and the duration of the incubation period of syphilis ranges from 8 days to several months. The rate at which the disease develops can be influenced by a number of factors. Thus, a weakened immune system or the formation of two chancre at a considerable distance from each other can shorten the incubation period. In the latter case, chancre saturates the body with pathogens much faster, acting from different sides. Such remote chancres are called bipolar.

The incubation period can be increased by taking medications during the treatment of a disease at the time of infection, as well as by the presence of a severe form of another disease simultaneously with infection.
During the incubation period, the patient, not yet suspecting that he has the disease, already poses a danger to others and the likelihood of contracting syphilis through contact with him appears almost from the first days after infection.

The main signs of primary syphilis are the appearance of chancre, characteristic flat papillomas; after some time, enlargement of the lymph nodes may be observed.
If primary syphilis was latent, manifestations of the secondary stage of the disease may appear 2-4 years after infection. Moreover, the number of such manifestations is quite large and includes the appearance of rashes, changes in pigmentation, changes in the general condition of the body, and destruction of tissues of internal organs. Most often, signs of secondary syphilis appear in waves and can disappear after a few weeks, giving a false impression of cure, after which they are detected again.

Symptoms of tertiary syphilis appear three or more (up to 10) years after infection and represent numerous external changes (ulcers, chancre, oozing inflammation, up to changes in the patient’s appearance) and intense destruction of internal organs.

Possibility of contracting syphilis during sex

Infection with syphilis through sexual contact is the most common way of contracting syphilis. In this case, infection can occur through vaginal, oral and anal unprotected contact. Interruption of sexual intercourse before ejaculation is not a way to protect against infection, since in the period before interruption there is an exchange of secreted fluids (including contact of the sexual partner with the lubricant that appears during arousal), which contain a large number of pathogens. There is an opinion that one-time unprotected sexual contacts cannot cause infection. In fact, the likelihood of contracting syphilis during one-time sex without a condom is lower than through constant unprotected contact with an infected partner, but these figures are 30 and 80%, respectively, and this is enough to consider the risk quite high.

Infection through kissing is usually classified as a household method of infection. At the same time, “smacking” on the cheek between relatives and friends when meeting or saying goodbye can cause infection only in rare cases. Let us remember that the causative agent of the disease lives and remains active in a humid environment, in human secretions, blood and lymph, therefore, for infection when kissing on the cheek, there must be a fresh scratch or wound on the skin into which the saliva of the infected kisser will get. The likelihood of contracting syphilis from kissing on the lips is much higher.

The use of barrier contraceptives reduces the risk of infection. However, it should be borne in mind that syphilis can also be transmitted through kissing, so the use of a condom is not always a guarantee of safety, and the possibility of contracting syphilis in a condom still exists. The possibility of damage to the condom during sexual intercourse, which increases the likelihood of contracting syphilis with a condom, should not be excluded.

The likelihood of contracting syphilis during oral sex is no less than during vaginal sex and is due to the same contact of fluids containing pathogens.
Many people underestimate the likelihood of contracting syphilis during anal intercourse due to the fact that the anus does not have glands that secrete lubricant, which means that at first glance there is no contact of liquid media. At the same time, during anal contact, microtraumas of the anus and rectum often appear, which may even be completely painless, but open the entrance to infection.

The likelihood of contracting syphilis in children

The routes of infection with syphilis in children are varied, and in the vast majority of cases the source of infection is the mother or those closest to her. Children can get syphilis placentally from an infected mother (this syphilis is called congenital) or through the milk of an infected mother (acquired syphilis). It is also possible that children may be infected with syphilis at home.

Domestic infection with syphilis

Infection with syphilis through domestic means is associated with the ability of Treponema pallidum to remain viable for a long time in a humid environment. Thus, a source of infection can be a bathtub in which they wash in turns with the patient, without first treating the surface with disinfectants, or sharing utensils. The surface of the skin is not a comfortable environment for treponema pallidum, however, a small abrasion, scratch, or microtrauma is enough for the causative agent of syphilis to enter the body.
Violation of personal hygiene rules, especially when surrounded by strangers or people you barely know, significantly increases the risk of infection. Most often, such violations occur under the influence of alcohol, when people start drinking from the same glass, passing it around, smoking a cigarette “for two”, staying overnight in someone else’s house, and the next morning using someone else’s toothbrush. It should also be remembered that the degree of acquaintance with others cannot be considered a determining factor, and infection can also occur through contact with a well-known person, because even close associates are not always privy to the details of intimate life. In addition, the infected person may not be aware of his own infection at this time.

Treatment of syphilis

The high probability of transmission of the disease, the risk of its transition to a secondary and even tertiary form are the reasons why syphilis of any stage is recommended to be treated in a hospital setting. Hospitalization in most cases occurs immediately after signs of syphilis infection are confirmed by laboratory testing of a smear or scraping from the chancre. Treatment begins before confirmation is received in order to suppress the reproduction and spread of disease pathogens throughout the body as quickly as possible.

Simultaneously with the treatment of the patient, not only his sexual partners are examined, but also close people living with him in the same apartment or house. Given the likelihood of a long incubation period, the number of people in contact with a sick person during this time can be significant. Is it possible to determine the time of infection with syphilis in order to reduce the number of “suspects”? ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) can indirectly indicate how old the infection is. ELISA is a treponemal test that is used not only to confirm infection, but also to determine the stage of the disease. ELISA cannot give accurate results (determining the time of infection), but based on the presence and concentration of antibodies in the blood, a specialist can with a reasonable degree of probability determine the time that has passed since the moment of infection.

Treatment of syphilis consists of destroying the causative agent of the disease with antibiotics. Additionally, immunomodulators and other supportive medications may be prescribed. Patients with confirmed infection are prescribed a course of treatment, and those who could become infected through contact are prescribed preventive treatment, which consists of a one-time injection of an antibiotic in a clinic setting. A person who has been ill does not receive immunity, so a secondary infection with syphilis is just as likely as a primary one. An injection of an antibiotic does not protect its environment, since it is intended to destroy bacteria already present in the body, and not to prevent their appearance. Therefore, people who have been in contact with the patient remain at risk of contracting syphilis after treatment.

Re-infection with syphilis from a person who has undergone treatment is likely until all control tests (some of them are carried out several months after completion of the therapeutic course) give a negative result. Until then, it is recommended to use a condom during sexual intercourse and observe good personal hygiene in order to prevent secondary infection with syphilis.

The nature of the course of the disease does not depend on how many times the infection occurs, and re-infection with syphilis can have similar and different symptoms compared to the primary one, depending on the person’s health status and the person’s medication intake at the time of infection.
Secondary infection is less common than primary infection, since most patients are aware of the risk and avoid a second infection with syphilis by following the necessary safety rules.

Preventing Syphilis Infection

To avoid infection, it is necessary to follow the rules known to everyone and avoid sexual contact with untested partners (the most common route of infection with syphilis). In addition, given the household methods of infection with syphilis, it is important to observe the rules of personal hygiene.

Instructions

The causative agent of syphilis is Treponema pallidum, the most common route of transmission of infection is sexual. Treponema is very unstable in the environment; outside the body it quickly dies, so household transmission (through dishes, linen) is rare. It is also possible for the fetus to become infected from a sick mother, in which case the child is born with congenital syphilis. It is theoretically possible to transmit the infection through a blood transfusion from a donor with syphilis, but since all blood is tested, this is practically impossible. Infection can occur among drug addicts by sharing syringes.

The incubation (latent) period for syphilis is 3-6 weeks, then a red ulcer forms in the place where the pathogen enters - a chancre. The ulcer is painless, has a dense base, a smooth, shiny bottom, its diameter can reach 2 cm. It soon heals, but at this time treponemes continue to multiply in it, then they are spread throughout the body through the lymphatic vessels. At this time, patients feel a headache, general weakness, and may have a low temperature.

There may be cases of the disease when there is no hard chancre or it is located on the internal genital organs. In this case, diagnosing syphilis is difficult. Within a week after the chancre appears, the lymph nodes become enlarged, especially in the affected area. Doctors call this period of syphilis primary.

Approximately 2 months after infection, the secondary period of syphilis begins. A rash appears on the soles, palms, skin of the torso, face and limbs; this is associated with vascular changes in the skin. The rashes look like spots or blisters, at first dark red in color, then they turn pale. Sometimes the rash grows with the formation of weeping areas on the mucous membranes, in the anus, in the armpits.

If the patient does not receive treatment, then the secondary period can drag on for a very long time, a rash may appear from time to time, but the person feels normal. After 3-4 years, the tertiary period begins to develop - dense, painless tubercles - gummas - appear on the skin. They capture the subcutaneous fat layer and deeper layers of the skin. The same gummas are formed on internal organs, which begin to slowly deteriorate.

With syphilis, osteochondral tissue is also affected, holes are formed in the hard palate, larynx, nasal cartilage, it "". When the nervous system is damaged (neurosyphilis), symptoms of brain damage, paralysis and mental disorders appear. Gummas often affect the cardiovascular system, the heart suffers (defects may develop) and the aorta.

Treatment of syphilis is prescribed by a dermatovenerologist, who should be contacted at the first signs of the disease. Patients need to know that syphilis takes a long time to cure, from several weeks to several years. Persons who have had sexual contact with the patient should undergo preventive treatment.

The dangerous disease household syphilis is characterized by a long incubation period and specific symptoms. Infection with it occurs due to poor personal hygiene, when people use other people's toothbrushes, drink from mugs other than their own, and smoke the same cigarette with friends. It is worth learning the characteristic signs of the disease and possible diagnostic and treatment options.

What is household syphilis

Sexual syphilis and domestic syphilis are the same disease, differing in the method of transmission. In medical terminology, this disease is understood as a chronic infectious venereal disease that affects all human organs and tissues and progresses very quickly. Through close household contact, you can become infected with syphilis, which has similar symptoms to sexual syphilis.

Is syphilis transmitted through household contact?

People mistakenly believe that it is difficult to become infected with syphilis, but this is not true. Through blood transfusion taken from a patient, ordinary contact such as a handshake or a kiss, you can easily get this disease without even knowing the risk. Doctors, having discovered symptoms in a patient, check not only his sexual partners, but also family members. Often the disease is detected in close relatives at the same time.

How is it transmitted?

The modes of transmission of syphilis are domestic and sexual. Rapid infection is possible through objects contaminated with syphilitic elements of the skin and mucous membranes, because the causative agent of the disease remains active for a long time in a humid environment. You can become infected through bites, kisses, dishes, cigarettes, towels, and underwear. The most dangerous are the first two stages of the disease, when the patient has ulcers and erosions in the oral cavity, which will be a source of infection.

The contagiousness of the urine and sweat of a patient with syphilis has not yet been proven, but there is a possibility of infecting a child through the milk of a nursing mother. Doctors, if they do not use gloves, risk when carrying out medical procedures and coming into contact with the patient’s internal organs during surgery. There is also a transfusion method of transmission - through blood transfusion.

What is the causative agent of the disease?

Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, a gram-negative spirochete that looks like a spiral. It is not very resistant to external influences - it disappears after household items dry out, but it persists for a long time in a humid environment. Treponema pallidum activates at a temperature of 40-42 degrees, then dies; at 55 degrees it dies in 15 minutes. Low temperature does not have a detrimental effect on the microorganism - during 9 years of experimental storage at minus 70 degrees, its activity did not disappear. Treponema is sensitive to chemicals.

How to recognize

Infection with domestic syphilis is similar to genital syphilis - the patient feels tired, aching joints, and his temperature rises. The disease weakens the immune system, so other diseases occur in parallel. You shouldn’t see a doctor if these are the only signs you notice, but you should regularly undergo examinations, medical examinations and donate blood.

Symptoms

In accordance with the stages of development, the symptoms of household syphilis also differ. The incubation period lasts 3-4 weeks, during which the disease is asymptomatic. Only at the primary and secondary stages do destructive signs begin, which by the third stage become very noticeable and cannot be ignored. In the first two stages, the disease can actually be cured, but advanced cases cannot.