Syphilis - a chronic infectious disease, transmitted mainly through sex (although there is a risk of infection by domestic and blood transfusion).

Pathogen of the disease - pale troponin - capable of striking almost all organs and tissues, leading to a chronic course of disease with periodic exacerbations. Ill most contagious during the first two years of the disease (called early syphilis), in the same period a maximum risk of transmission of infection from the sick mother to bear and be born child (congenital syphilis).

Syphilis during several periods of change differs for each of which are characterized by various manifestations. If untreated, the disease develops, the periods follow each other, and the manifestations of the last period go away, giving place to another. 4-5 weeks after infection on the genitals appear more often alone, painless ulcer (chancre). Sometimes the syphilis sores are multiple, are asexual localization: for example, on the mucosa.

Modes of transmission of syphilis sores.

The most common way of infection with syphilis and sex. The overwhelming majority of infections occur through unprotected sexual intercourse. Predisposing condition for infection is the presence of micro damage of the mucous membranes and skin. Other sexually transmitted infections, leading to violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane of the genitals (herpes, chlamydia, human papillomavirus infection, etc.) dramatically increase the contagiousness of the patient and the risk of infection to his partner. It should be remembered that the most contagious patients are having erosion or ulcers on the genitals, in the discharge of which contains a large amount of pale troponin.

Although the external environment troponin survives poorly in wet biological materials (semen, vaginal secretions, mucus, pus, etc.) while it retains the ability to infection. It is therefore possible to "get" syphilis, not only sexually but also through hygiene items, underwear, etc.

Symptoms of syphilis.

From the moment of infection until the onset of clinical manifestations of disease (so-called incubation period) is usually 3 - 4 weeks. In adverse situations (childhood and old age, physical and mental fatigue, alcoholism, drug addiction, poor nutrition, etc.) the incubation period may be reduced by half. If there are factors hindering the development of infection (egg, antibiotic use, self-other means), this period may increase to 108-190 days.

The primary manifestation of syphilis is a chancre - ulcer or erosion at the site of penetration pale troponin. At the base of an oval or rounded chancre, is clearly demarcated dense-elastic sealing the underlying tissues, which determined the characteristic chancre - hard? Chancre is usually painless, which is its additional feature. At the end of the first week after the appearance of the chancre usually occurs an increase in regional - located close to it - the lymph nodes. As cancroid, they are painless when probing. Lymph nodes is stored, usually 3 -5 months.