Does third-stage syphilis have transmissibility?

Written by Zhu Zhu

Dermatology

Updated on September 17, 2024

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Syphilis is a disease that often causes fear among the general population. Syphilis is divided into three stages: primary, secondary, and tertiary, with tertiary syphilis being the most infectious stage. Syphilis is a chronic systemic infectious disease caused by the infection of the Treponema pallidum bacterium. It has a wide range of transmission methods, including sexual transmission, blood transmission, and mother-to-child transmission, among others. Therefore, the infectiousness of tertiary syphilis is the strongest, and everyone should pay extra attention and take precautions.

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Written by Luo Hong

Dermatology Department

49sec

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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

52sec

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Can syphilis antibodies be detected during the hard chancre stage?

During the hard chancre phase of syphilis, a portion of cases can test positive for Treponema pallidum, although some tests may return negative results. In such cases, it is advisable to retest after one month. The earliest detectable antibodies for Treponema pallidum are usually of two types: a Treponema pallidum-specific antibody, which appears earlier than the non-specific antibodies. There are tests for non-specific antibodies, commonly referred to as RPR or TRUST, which are standard practices in major hospitals. Therefore, in early-stage syphilis or primary syphilis with hard chancre, it is possible to find Treponema pallidum-specific antibodies positive, RPR or TRUST negative, or both negative. If syphilis is strongly suspected in such cases, a retest is recommended after one month.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

37sec

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Which is more serious, syphilis or AIDS?

Syphilis and AIDS, between the two, AIDS is more serious. This is because AIDS currently cannot be cured, and requires long-term regular intake of antiretroviral drugs. Syphilis, on the other hand, can be completely cured. In the early stages of syphilis, such as primary and secondary syphilis, the treatment is often very effective and also very convenient. Generally, a treatment course of two to three weeks can cure most syphilis infections. Therefore, between syphilis and AIDS, AIDS is more serious. These two diseases often occur simultaneously because both are transmitted sexually.

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Written by Zhu Zhu

Dermatology

40sec

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How should tertiary syphilis be managed?

The treatment and management of tertiary syphilis is a challenging process since it is a late stage of the disease, affecting the skin, bones, mucous membranes, cardiovascular system, nerves, and potentially triggering diseases in various bodily systems. For managing tertiary syphilis, it is recommended to consume high-protein and high-vitamin foods such as apples, bananas, green vegetables, and radishes. It is crucial to seek timely medical treatment at a hospital and address any complications that arise, which can help in gradually managing and alleviating the condition of tertiary syphilis.

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Written by Li Chang Yue

General Surgery

1min 1sec

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Is there a high possibility of syphilis with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes?

Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes generally suggest the possibility of syphilis, but such enlargement caused by syphilis commonly appears in the secondary or tertiary stages of the disease. In the early primary stage of syphilis, it is rare to see swollen inguinal lymph nodes; the symptoms are mostly seen on the external genitals, including soft and hard chancres. As syphilis progresses, it may gradually lead to swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes, including other superficial lymph nodes. However, enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes alone cannot conclusively determine that the cause is syphilis. Other conditions such as bacterial lymphadenitis, lymph node tuberculosis, or lymphoma could also cause swollen inguinal lymph nodes. Therefore, to diagnose whether it is caused by syphilis, it is crucial to consider the results of syphilis serological tests and specific pathological puncture findings.