How to identify and treat syphilis?

The source of syphilis infection is the bacterium Treponema pallidum. This is a microorganism of the treponema family. It causes lesions of the mucous membrane, skin, internal organs and bones. You can become infected sexually or through contact with the body fluids of an infected person.

• Sexual contact. The microorganism penetrates through any, even very small, damage to the mucous membrane of the genitals, oral cavity or rectum.
• Transmission through household items. These are rare cases, since pale treponema cannot survive for a long time outside the host's body. When exposed to high temperatures (over 50 degrees) or alcohol, soap solutions, it quickly dies.
• Blood transfusion or organ transplant. Today, this type of transmission is practically excluded. Donors are tested for all infectious diseases, including venereal diseases.
• Infection of the child in the womb. It is also possible to become infected through breast milk or during childbirth (when passing through the birth canal).

General symptoms of the disease include scleradenitis, chancre under the skin, rash, lesions of the tonsils, genitals.

If you find similar signs of the disease, you must immediately seek help from specialized specialists. If the venereologist does not begin treatment in time, gummas may appear in the bones, disorders in the nervous and vascular systems, and as a result, death.

Before choosing a therapy, you need to correctly determine the type of disease. Diagnostics of syphilis consists of several clinical and laboratory studies.

• Amnesis. The patient is questioned about complaints. The nature of sexual relations and the presence of similar diseases in the partner are determined.
• Physical examination. The venereologist visually examines the skin, surfaces in the area of the reproductive organs and anus. Palpation of the lymph nodes is performed.
• Blood tests and inflammation foci. In order to confirm the presence or absence of typical forms of treponema, dark-field microscopy, macroscopic test, direct immunofluorescence reaction and other studies are used.
• Confirmation of various stages and complications of the disease. If signs of secondary or tertiary syphilis appear, then X-ray is used (the aorta, sternum, skull bones, joints are checked for changes), audiological and ophthalmological examination (changes in the functionality of the visual and auditory canals).

Treatment of the disease is best started in the early stages. Today, the effectiveness of the fight against Treponema bacteria is approaching 100%.

• Drug therapy. After all the necessary procedures, the doctor prescribes a set of drugs that suppress the infection. Antibiotics, iodine and bismuth preparations are popular in use. Common drugs include Cefotaxime, Retarpen, Bicillin, Rovamycin, Cefobid and other penicillin groups.
• Non-specific therapy. When determining late, latent or contagious forms, various additional types of impact on the disease are used. For example, pyrotherapy (increased heat production), immunotherapy (biological stimulants), ultraviolet irradiation. To enhance the effect, use baths with dimexide, ointments based on mercury, heparin, powders with talc.

It is important to remember that the infection is easily treated. Do not be embarrassed to contact medical institutions. This can be done anonymously. It will not be superfluous to observe the rules of personal hygiene, and to carry out preventive measures after sexual intercourse. For example, wiping the organs with a cotton swab soaked in a saline solution.