Neurosyphilis - causes and signs of neurosyphilis

There are several classifications of this disease.

According to the anatomical and clinical features, neurosyphilis is divided into:

• mesenchymal - characterized by damage to the membranes and blood vessels of the brain (brain or spinal). Defined as early neurosyphilis;
• parenchymatous - pathological change in the brain matter. Refers to late neurosyphilis.

According to another classification: early - development during the first five years after infection, and late - the onset of development after five years that have passed since infection.

Experts distinguish the following stages of this disease:

• incubation or latent period - duration up to a month;
• primary - duration one and a half months. Hard chancre appears on the skin, mucous membranes, and genitals (most often);
• secondary - up to five years, pustular and roseolous rashes appear;
• tertiary - develops from three to seven years after infection. Characterized by the presence of gummas and tubercles.

In addition, there are such stages:

• latent or asymptomatic;
• syphilitic acute meningitis;
• meningovascular syphilis;
• spinal;
• parenchymatous neurosyphilis;
• cerebral;
• tabes dorsalis;
• progressive paralysis;
• taboparalysis;
• syphilitic gumma;

Causes

The main and only reason that provokes the disease is infection of a person with pale treponema, this occurs in in the following cases: damage to the skin or mucous membrane, decreased immunity, microtrauma and scratches of the skin. And also during unprotected sexual intercourse, kissing, during blood transfusion, when using infected personal hygiene items, insect bites. When medical personnel perform various manipulations: during operations, autopsies.

Symptoms

Unfortunately, long-term development without any symptoms is possible. But most often there are appearances of: hard chancre, generalized rashes, meningitis, inflammatory infiltrates, which look like gummas and tubercles. Headache, vomiting, nausea, meningeal signs, maculopapular rash, visual impairment, hearing impairment, epileptic seizures, changes in consciousness (delirium, stupor, etc.) are also symptoms of this disease. Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, sleep disorders, personality changes, emotional lability, spastic paraparesis, impaired sensitivity, as well as pelvic organ function, sensory ataxia, neurogenic disorders, impotence, neurogenic arthropathy syndrome, weakness, apathy, fatigue, decreased performance, intention tremor, decreased muscle tone, as well as muscle strength - all this refers to the symptoms.

Symptoms can be pronounced or practically unnoticeable.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing the pathology is quite difficult, since it is characterized by a long asymptomatic period. If you suspect it, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist or venereologist. Consultation with an ophthalmologist and psychiatrist is also necessary. The following types of studies are used for diagnostics: serological blood tests, general serological examination of cerebrospinal fluid, magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomography.

Treatment

This disease is fatal and requires immediate treatment. Therapy is carried out in a hospital and consists of intravenous administration of penicillin. At the beginning of treatment, the patient's condition worsens. Therapy for late stages of the disease is ineffective.

Pale treponema is located in lesions in the periendothelial space, intercellular spaces, nerve fibers, and blood vessels. But detection of the pathogen in the periepineurium does not indicate damage to the nervous system.

Prevention

Prevention of neurosyphilis consists of observing the rules of personal hygiene and periodic examination by specialists.