Syphilis

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Written by Kang Jian Hua
Reproductive Center
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Can the eugenic five-item test detect syphilis?

To know whether the eugenic five-item test includes syphilis, it is first necessary to clarify the components of this test. The eugenic five-item test includes screenings for toxoplasmosis, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and it does not include a test for syphilis. Therefore, the eugenic five-item test does not cover syphilis. These five tests are mainly aimed at checking for viral infections before or during early pregnancy. The presence of any of these infections can be harmful to the fetus, potentially leading to early miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital malformations. Thus, the eugenic five-item test does not include a syphilis test, which falls under sexually transmitted disease screenings.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can tertiary syphilis be transmitted?

Third-stage syphilis is contagious, but its infectivity is weaker compared to first-stage and second-stage syphilis. However, the damage caused by third-stage syphilis is very severe, often causing damage to tissues and organ functions. It can potentially cause disabilities, deformities, or even life-threatening conditions. Therefore, the characteristic of third-stage syphilis is its weak infectivity but strong damaging effects. Thus, it is crucial to take third-stage syphilis seriously and seek regular and timely treatment.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Is severe oral ulceration related to syphilis?

Oral ulcers are a type of erosion of the mucous membrane in the mouth and are commonly seen in clinical settings; they are a common disease. Syphilis, on the other hand, is a viral infection unrelated to oral ulcers, so it is recommended that patients be aware to differentiate them. Furthermore, it is crucial for patients to pay attention to their lifestyle habits and personal hygiene. When oral ulcers occur, it is appropriate to use some medications for oral ulcers for application, which can effectively treat the ulcerated surface of the mouth. Moreover, if a patient experiences severe, recurrent oral ulcers, it is advised to seek medical diagnosis at a hospital to exclude the possibility of other systemic diseases causing the ulcers. Additionally, patients should maintain good oral hygiene daily to develop healthy oral habits.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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What are the early symptoms of syphilis in men?

Early symptoms of syphilis in men may include small papules, with the characteristic lesion of early syphilis being a chancre. From the infection with the syphilis spirochete to the appearance of skin symptoms, it usually takes about three weeks on average. The syphilis chancre in men is typically found on the genitals, though a minority may appear in the mouth. The earliest form of a chancre is a solitary papule, which gradually develops into a round or oval-shaped ulcer. The ulcer has clear boundaries, slightly raised edges, and a clean base, feeling firm like cartilage to the touch, without significant pain. When a chancre appears, if a secondary bacterial infection occurs, pain may arise. Men infected with syphilis must seek early treatment as early-stage syphilis can be completely cured.

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Written by Cui Lin Jing
Dermatology
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What are the symptoms of tertiary syphilis?

Tertiary syphilis mainly occurs two to three years, or even five to ten years or longer, after infection. The primary skin manifestations are gummas, which often occur on the extensor side of the lower legs, and can present as ulcerations, erosions, nodules, and hyperplasia. It may also involve bones, joints, the heart, and blood vessels. The main manifestations include aortitis, aortic valve insufficiency, and aortic aneurysms. When the nervous system is involved, it can present as spinal tuberculosis and general paralysis, which are symptoms of paralytic dementia. The diagnosis of tertiary syphilis requires serological tests and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The treatment involves primarily penicillin and benzathine penicillin, with erythromycin or tetracycline as alternatives for patients allergic to penicillin, and requires a longer course of treatment.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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What are the symptoms of syphilis?

Syphilis is divided into acquired syphilis and congenital syphilis, which is transmitted via the fetus. Acquired syphilis, based on the duration of the disease and using two years as a boundary, is further divided into early-stage syphilis and late-stage syphilis. Early-stage syphilis, particularly primary syphilis, mainly presents symptoms such as a chancre and scleradenitis, generally without systemic symptoms. Secondary syphilis occurs when primary syphilis is untreated or not completely treated, allowing the virus to enter the bloodstream from the lymphatic system and spread throughout the body. This causes damages to the skin, mucous membranes, and systemically, known as secondary syphilis. It can manifest as various forms of syphilitic rash, some resembling papular rashes, others similar to dermatitis, eczema, flat lichen, urticaria, psoriasis, pustular disease, and others. Some secondary syphilitic rashes are similar to flat genital warts, and sometimes syphilis can lead to alopecia. Syphilis can also affect mucous membranes, appearing in the mouth, tongue, pharynx, larynx, and genital mucous membranes, characterized by one or more areas of distinct erythema, vesicles, erosion, covered with a grayish-white membrane, generally painless. Some syphilis cases might affect bones, causing damage to bones and joints. Latent syphilis presents no obvious symptoms, and late-stage syphilis might involve the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

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Written by Luo Hong
Dermatology Department
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Can syphilis be completely cured?

Syphilis can generally be completely cured nowadays, except neurosyphilis which is somewhat harder to treat, as ordinary syphilis is curable and neurosyphilis may relapse occasionally. However, most current cases of syphilis fall into categories of latent, primary, or secondary syphilis. Tertiary syphilis is less common, and forms such as neurosyphilis and osteal syphilis belong to this stage. Therefore, when treated at a regular hospital with a standard treatment regimen, primarily using penicillin, administered as a long-acting intramuscular injection once a week, the recommended course of treatment usually consists of three to four weeks. If there is an allergy to penicillin, doxycycline can be used as an oral substitute for half a month.

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Written by Luo Hong
Dermatology Department
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Syphilis IgM negative represents what?

Syphilis IgM negative, which is primarily screened using the ELISA method. Generally, a negative IgM can temporarily rule out syphilis. If still uncertain, further confirmatory syphilis tests can be conducted, such as TPPA (Treponema Pallidum Particle Agglutination) or TPHA (Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination). Usually, syphilis can be temporarily dismissed if IgM is negative. However, if symptoms of a primary chancre are present, such as genital ulcers, an early Syphilis IgM might be negative. In such cases where symptoms are clear but IgM is negative, it is typically advised to retest after one month. If the result turns positive, a confirmatory test should be performed to diagnose and treat syphilis.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Does the eugenic five-item check include syphilis?

Does the eugenic check for syphilis? Eugenic examination checks for toxoplasmosis, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and other mycoplasma, chlamydia, or parvovirus infections. These are generally diseases transmitted through the respiratory tract, and if infection occurs, they mainly affect the development of the fetus's brain or eyes, as well as the development of the liver and other internal organs. The test for syphilis, which is a type of sexually transmitted disease, belongs to infectious diseases. The eugenic check does not necessarily concern infectious diseases; it can be contracted through respiratory infection or by consuming contaminated food. However, syphilis is very specific in its transmission, which occurs through blood, mother-to-child transmission, or sexual contact. These two are not the same concept.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Does third-stage syphilis rash itch?

People with tertiary syphilis generally do not experience itching. Tertiary syphilis represents the later stages of the disease manifestation. Typically, the symptoms on the skin are neither painful nor itchy, which is the case for most individuals. However, some patients may feel differently from the majority, experiencing anomalies, or they might develop secondary conditions such as eczema or allergies, among others, possibly leading to mild itching and so on.