SYPHILIS

SYPHILIS

Epidemiology and etiology of syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by a bacteria known as Treponema pallidum. The bacterial can get in through the tissues that align the rectum, nose, throat and the vagina. It can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy which is referred to as congenital syphilis. Three theories are used to explain the origin of syphilis. The theories are, the Columbia, pre-Columbian and Unitarian theories. The Columbian theory explains that syphilis originated from the new world and was passed to the old by Columbus. The pre-Columbia theory suggests that the disease existed in the old world but was either very mild or not differentiated with other similar or related diseases. The Unitarian theory suggest that syphilis developed in the new and old world from related diseases due to environmental change (Harper, Zuckerman, Harp, Kingston, & Armelagos 2011

Risk factors of syphilis

A person can be at risk of getting the syphilis infection if he/she has unprotected sex either anal, vaginal or oral. Also men who have sex with other men are also at risk of getting the infection. HIV positive people are also at a higher risk of getting the infection. People who have more than one sex partners are also at a risk of getting the infection (Smith, 2016).

Symptoms of syphilis

The first signs of syphilis can appear after about three months of infection where a person can develop one or more painless ulcrs on the genitals. The ulcers can heal within six weeks without treatment but the person is still infected and if not treated it can advance to a secondary stage.  The infection can also take about three years without developing any symptoms.  In women the ulcers can appear on the vulva, cervix and anus or in the mouth while in men it can appear on the penis, anus or the mouth (Smith, 2016).

The second stage which is the secondary stage appears three to six months after the first sign of infection. Here a person gets flu like sickness accompanied by lack of appetite and tiredness. Flat, warty-looking growths can also appear around the anus and in the genital areas. Rough, red or reddish brown sports can appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. A non-itchy rash can appear in patches or covering the whole body (Smith, 2016).

In the late stage of syphilis a person experiences difficulty with muscle movement, paralysis, numbness, blindness, dementia and finally death if the infection is not treated early enough. A person infected with syphilis can stay for 20 to 30 years after the first infection without showing any signs while it silently damages the nervous system (Smith, 2016).

Treatment of syphilis

Syphilis can be easily cured in the early stages where one can be given an antibiotic injection or antibiotic drugs to take. The drugs can destroy the bacterial but cannot repair any damage caused by the infection. Follow-up in treatment is also very important (Smith, 2016).

Strategies for educating patients on the disorder

When preparing a strategy for educating patients about syphilis, one should consider the readiness of the patient to learn. The patient’s motivation to learn should also be assessed. Learning objectives and a diagnostic statement should also be set in the presence of the patient. The teaching and learning process can start from there (Redman, 2007). 

References

Harper, K. N., Zuckerman, M. K., Harper, M. L., Kingston, J. D., & Armelagos, G. J. (2011). The origin and antiquity of syphilis revisited: An Appraisal of Old World pre‐Columbian evidence for treponemal infection. American journal of physical anthropology, 146(S53), 99-133.

Redman, B. K. (2007). The practice of patient education: A case study approach. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Smith, L. (2016). Syphilis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186656.php