Syphilis Singapore Clinic

Syphilis Singapore Clinic: Syphilis - symptoms in men/women, screening/diagnosis, testing/check, treatment clinic, Singapore - Private and confidential service. Definitions, references, and latest news.

Description

Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum and is usually detected with the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, and treated with Benzathine penicillin injection.

Symptoms and signs

Primary Syphilis - a painless and firm ulcer (called a chancre) develops at the site of infection (penis, anal, mouth, scrotum) after nine to 90 days. If left untreated, the chancre will heal by itself within a few weeks. This does not indicate that the infection is cured; on the contrary the infection is actually spreading throughout the body.

Secondary Syphilis - rashes on palms, soles, and body usually appear within three months after the initial infection, coupled with flu-like symptoms (fever, lethargy, swollen glands). Other less common symptoms include moist, fleshy growth near the groin and anus, hair loss, etc. This is the most infectious stage. If left untreated, the rashes may also disappear; once again this does not mean that the infection is cured.

It must be emphasised that not all patients demonstrate early symptoms. Furthermore many may not be aware of infections occurring in the rectum or throat, while others may ignore mild rashes and flu-like symptoms which can be mistaken for a common throat infection and viral rash. Blood tests for syphilis one to three months after exposure will be able to diagnose the infection.

Latent Syphilis - this is the period where there are no symptoms or signs, the infection is called latent. Though it is not infectious, the bacteria continue to spread in internal organs. Some infected persons with syphilis remain in this latent stage for the rest of their lives with limited complications.

Tertiary Syphilis - a proportion of infected persons progress to this late stage after five to up to 30 years where internal organs like the heart, brain, eyes, nerves, spinal cord are seriously infected. Usually these people are discovered when they present with heart problems, visual problems, psychiatric or brain complaints etc

Diagnosis

During the primary stage, a test using a special microscope to identify the bacteria in the fluid obtained from the chancre is diagnostic. Experienced laboratory technicians are usually needed for this. Sometimes, this technique is the only way to diagnose primary syphilis because the blood test for VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory Slide Test) or RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) may not show up during this early phase or window period.

If a person presents with secondary symptoms, a blood test will usually confirm the diagnosis of secondary syphilis.

All latent and late syphilis are diagnosed by blood tests.

Treatment

Syphilis is a treatable and curable infection. Penicillin given by injection is the drug of choice; it effectively cures a person with syphilis in the early stage and prevents further organ damage in the late stages. Thereafter routine monitoring of blood every six months for up to two years is needed to ensure adequate treatment.

References

• Syphilis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Syphilis: Definition from Answers.com
• Syphilis - definition of Syphilis in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
• WHO | Antibiotics for syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy
• Syphilis - STD information from CDC

Susan M. Reverby, Examining Tuskegee: The Infamous Syphilis Study and its Legacy
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:14:02 +0100 | Social History of Medicine
(Source: Social History of Medicine)

Treating Syphilis Without Penicillin
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:37:21 +0100 | Medscape Today Headlines
Can a single oral dose of azithromycin can be curative in patients with early syphilis? Journal Watch (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

DIATHERIX Laboratories Launches STD And HSV Test Panel
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0100 | Health News from Medical News Today
DIATHERIX Laboratories, adds a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) panel and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) panel to its line up of highly sensitive, rapid response diagnostic panels. The HSV panel identifies herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 and the STD panel identifies 10 sexually transmitted diseases simultaneously, many of which cannot be accurately identified by current testing methods. These STD organisms, if not appropriately treated, can cause diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhoeae, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, etc. and may lead to blindness, infertility or complications during pregnancy... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Malignant Mimicry
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:58:38 +0100 | The American Journal of Medicine
Although syphilis has been known historically as “the Great Mimicker,” some other diseases also merit this appellation, presenting with a plethora of symptoms and signs commonly ascribed to other ailments. We recently had the opportunity to care for a patient whose pathologic condition masqueraded as an alternative condition. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)

URUGUAY: Millennium Goal on Maternal Health in Sight
Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:08:02 +0100 | IPS Inter Press Service - Health
Uruguay is on the point of reaching the Millennium Development Goal for reducing the maternal mortality ratio, but it is still behind in other aspects of maternal health, like providing integrated sexual and reproductive health care, fighting syphilis and checking on mothers and babies during the postpartum period. (Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health)

Cost analysis of asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss investigations
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 | The Laryngoscope
The purpose of this study is to critically evaluate the typical cost of asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) work-up, and to compare the positive predictive value from this common presenting symptom.Retrospective chart review from two major otolaryngology centers.We reviewed charts from patients presenting to New York Eye and Ear Infirmary between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006, and the University of Minnesota between December 1, 2002 and November 30, 2007 with ASNHL. Diagnostic information included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serum laboratory values (antinuclear antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Lyme, rapid plasma reagin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone). We calculated positive rate according to each item of diagnosis. To estimate cost-benefit, we furt...

National Quality Forum Performance Measures for HIV/---- Care: The Department of Veterans Affairs' Experience [Original Investigation]
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:50:44 +0100 | Archives of Internal Medicine
Conclusions  National performance rates were generally high, but variation in rates across facilities revealed room for improvement. Both patient and resource factors had an impact on the likelihood of receipt of indicated care. (Source: Archives of Internal Medicine)

A risk model for congenital syphilis in infants born to mothers with syphilis treated in gestation: a prospective cohort study
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:48:51 +0100 | Sexually Transmitted Infections
Conclusions The risk of CS could be predicted by the interaction between GWxlog (1/T). Early treatment given to women with syphilis during antenatal care may be the only effective method to decrease the risk of CS. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)

Whistlestop tour
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:48:50 +0100 | Sexually Transmitted Infections
(Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)