How should tertiary syphilis be managed?

Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
Updated on September 05, 2024
00:00
00:00

The treatment and management of tertiary syphilis is a challenging process since it is a late stage of the disease, affecting the skin, bones, mucous membranes, cardiovascular system, nerves, and potentially triggering diseases in various bodily systems.

For managing tertiary syphilis, it is recommended to consume high-protein and high-vitamin foods such as apples, bananas, green vegetables, and radishes. It is crucial to seek timely medical treatment at a hospital and address any complications that arise, which can help in gradually managing and alleviating the condition of tertiary syphilis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
29sec home-news-image

Can tertiary syphilis be transmitted to infants?

It is possible for a baby to be infected with third-stage syphilis. Third-stage syphilis is a late stage of the disease, and if a pregnant mother has third-stage syphilis, it is possible to transmit the disease to her baby through mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, if you discover that you have syphilis, especially third-stage syphilis, it is crucial to receive treatment promptly to prevent transmitting it to the baby.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
1min 1sec home-news-image

Is there a high possibility of syphilis with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes?

Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes generally suggest the possibility of syphilis, but such enlargement caused by syphilis commonly appears in the secondary or tertiary stages of the disease. In the early primary stage of syphilis, it is rare to see swollen inguinal lymph nodes; the symptoms are mostly seen on the external genitals, including soft and hard chancres. As syphilis progresses, it may gradually lead to swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes, including other superficial lymph nodes. However, enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes alone cannot conclusively determine that the cause is syphilis. Other conditions such as bacterial lymphadenitis, lymph node tuberculosis, or lymphoma could also cause swollen inguinal lymph nodes. Therefore, to diagnose whether it is caused by syphilis, it is crucial to consider the results of syphilis serological tests and specific pathological puncture findings.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
37sec home-news-image

Can tertiary syphilis be contagious?

Third-stage syphilis is contagious. Although the titers in third-stage syphilis might be lower than those in the first and second stages, it still has the ability to infect others. Moreover, third-stage syphilis can easily lead to many complications, affecting other tissues and organs of the body. Therefore, third-stage syphilis is very serious. Once third-stage syphilis occurs, one must be particularly vigilant, seek timely treatment in a reputable hospital early, enhance their immunity, and avoid having a history of unprotected sexual activity.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
41sec home-news-image

Can tertiary syphilis be breastfed?

Syphilis is a common infectious disease caused by the syphilis spirochete, with tertiary syphilis being the most severe and most infectious stage. Therefore, breastfeeding is not allowed if one has tertiary syphilis, as breastfeeding is one of the transmission routes of syphilis. If breastfeeding occurs, syphilis can potentially be transmitted to the child through the breast milk. The breast milk of syphilis patients contains syphilis spirochetes, and if a syphilis patient breastfeeds a child, it essentially means transmitting this pathogen to the newborn through the milk. Thus, syphilis patients are prohibited from breastfeeding.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
1min 12sec home-news-image

Symptoms of tertiary syphilis

Tertiary syphilis is the most severe stage of syphilis. The most common skin and mucosal damage in tertiary syphilis appears on the scalp, scapula, back, and the extensor sides of the limbs, where nodular syphilitic rashes can be observed, and gummatous swellings can also be seen on the lower legs. Apart from damaging the skin and mucous membranes, tertiary syphilis can also harm the cardiovascular and nervous systems. If the cardiovascular system is affected, it can cause problems in the aortic arch, leading to aortic valve insufficiency and syphilitic heart disease. If the nervous system is involved, it can cause neurosyphilis, manifesting as syphilitic meningitis, cerebrovascular syphilis, meningeal gumma, paralytic dementia, and more. In summary, once afflicted with tertiary syphilis, patients can exhibit a variety of clinical symptoms such as increased intracranial pressure, headaches, sensory abnormalities, ataxia, paralytic dementia, and localized brain compression, among other symptoms.