NCLEX Review & Nursing School

Syphillis

– can become systemic and cause serious complications
– organism is treponoma pallidum

TYPES
* Primary Syphillis
– the appearance of an ulcer called a chancre is the first sign of syphillis
– chancre develops at the site of the entry from 10 to 90 days after exposure
– Chancres may be found on the genetilia, lips, nipple and hands
– during the highly infectious stage, the chancre begins as a small papule
– within 3 to 7 days, it breaks down into a painless, smooth weeping lesion

* Secondary Syphillis
– develops 6 weeks to 6 months after the onset of primary syphillis
– manifestations include malaise, low grade fever, headache, muscular aches and pains
and somtimes sore throat.
– a generalized rash develops, which involves the palms and the soles of the feet.

* Early and Late Latent Syphillis
– after the second stage of syphillis, there is a period of latency.
– early syphillis occurs during the first year after infection.

– Late Latent syphillis is a disease of more than 1 yr.’s duration after infection
– *This stage is not infectious except to the fetus of a pregnant woman

* Tertiary Syphillis
– occurs after a highly variable period from 4 to 20 years.