Historical information: Treponema pallidum was discovered in 1905. The term "syphilis" first began to be used in the mid-16th century. The outstanding scientist G. Fracastoro wrote the poem “On Syphilis or the Gallic Disease.” There are several opinions regarding how syphilis appeared in Europe. Some historians claim that it was brought from America, some claim that it has been here since ancient times.
Household syphilis - symptoms, routes of transmission
Many people consider syphilis a disease of the past. Until recently this was the case; it is not the statistics that cause alarm. In recent years, there has been a very serious increase in the number of people suffering from syphilis. We are not talking about percentages, but about multiple increases. What is this connected with? There are several reasons.
- The state does not have a program to prevent this disease. Citizens remain unaware of the current situation. Nobody tells people what household syphilis is, how to protect themselves from it, and what to do if symptoms appear.
- The growth of drug addiction. There is no need to explain anything here. This category of the population is susceptible to a variety of diseases. Even those who naively believe that dabbling in weed is absolutely harmless are taking a very serious risk. The likelihood of household syphilis during such relaxations is very high.
- Alcoholism is on the rise. We are not even talking about drunken and degraded citizens. Holidays accompanied by heavy drinking are the norm in our society. In such a situation, the instinct of self-preservation becomes dull, and we begin to do things that are stupid and dangerous to our health. The use of one glass by two or three people, kissing, smoking one cigarette among several people - all these are ways of transmitting household syphilis.
- Declining standard of living. How does this affect how common household syphilis is? It really has an impact. A person who is in a difficult financial situation cannot provide himself and his family with an appropriate level of personal hygiene. He cannot afford to eat in normal catering establishments that comply with all sanitary safety standards. These are just two examples. In fact, many attributes of a decline in living standards turn into ways of contracting household syphilis.
Sexual and domestic syphilis, differences
Differences between domestic and sexual syphilis not in how the disease progresses, and not in the consequences. Doctors say this is not a separate disease. This is syphilis, but we are talking about the method of infection. Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, is transmitted sexually. A person who is sick can infect others through household items and close contact other than sexual contact. For example, using someone else's toothbrush can have very serious consequences, and within a month you will find household syphilis on your tongue.
A completely logical question arises: “Does household syphilis exist?” Syphilis is a very real, insidious and dangerous disease. Household syphilis is called only those cases where the infection did not occur through sexual contact. The humor of doctors is dark, but one of the jokes clearly and clearly explains the types of syphilis and how it is transmitted in everyday life. So, a quote from an unknown doctor: “The primary manifestation of syphilis, chancroid, appears in the place where they sinned...” Venereologists deal mostly with certain categories of the population. Most often, these doctors are good psychologists and great skeptics. Household syphilis in the groin area, you will agree, sounds implausible. Although, anything is possible, especially for people who do not follow the rules of personal hygiene.
In order to make it clear what the difference is between domestic and sexual syphilis. Let's try to give an example. The doctor told the story of the infection of one of his patients. A man came to the reception. He was found to have an ulcer characteristic of the common disease syphilis on his lips, covered with a bloody crust. The patient stated that he did not feel any discomfort, there was no pain. Already during the examination it was concluded that it was syphilis. Laboratory studies confirmed this. We managed to find out how the infection occurred. The patient, who has a family, a wife and a 4-year-old child, met with friends some time ago. The meeting was fun, with a lot of alcohol. In the stage of severe intoxication, men no longer paid attention to whose glass they were drinking from, and smoked one cigarette for several people. Brotherly hugs, assurances of eternal friendship and sealing this deal with the Brezhnev kiss also took place.
Such parties happen in the lives of many; there is nothing unusual or shameful about it. But one of the friends, without knowing it, contracted syphilis through sexual contact. Either during a shared smoking session, or through a shared glass, or during a kiss, our patient was also infected. And it was in this case that syphilis was transmitted through household means. The story didn't end there. The patient, not knowing that he was a carrier of Treponema pallidum, infected his wife during intimacy. And here sexual transmission already occurs. The patient's child was also examined. A blood test showed that the baby had syphilis. How could this happen? The father, not knowing about his illness, kissed the child very often. And again there was a household route of transmission of syphilis.
What is household syphilis really? This is a disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs of a person. It is caused by treponema pallidum, as in ordinary syphilis, but in this case it is not transmitted sexually, but through household items shared with a sick person.
How does household syphilis manifest? Everything happens very similar to sexually transmitted infection. The patient feels tired and aching joints. His temperature rises. Syphilis greatly weakens the immune system. Other diseases may occur precisely because the body fights Treponema pallidum bacteria. You should not immediately begin to suspect that you are infected with syphilis at home if you notice these symptoms or do not know the cause of the high temperature. But it is necessary to know that this is possible. Seeing your doctor for a complete examination or getting regular physicals is very important. This way you can start treatment in time not only for syphilis, but also for other, no less dangerous, diseases.
What are the signs of someone infected with household syphilis?
Symptoms of household syphilis can vary. This depends on the stage of development of the disease. Doctors divide three stages: primary, secondary and tertiary syphilis.
The first signs of household syphilis
The manifestation of primary household syphilis is expressed by the appearance of red spots on the skin, they are called chancre. Most often they affect the genitals, but can be anywhere on the body. It is not uncommon for syphilis to cause pink erosions on or near the mucous membranes. The primary signs of household syphilis are fever and joint pain. In some cases, swelling of the genitals is possible. After 4-6 weeks, the chancre heals. It seems that everything went away and nothing serious happened. If they were not noticed on time and treatment did not begin, syphilis develops into a secondary form. You need to pay attention if you notice wounds in the oral cavity. It is not a fact that this is household syphilis in the mouth, but it is better to consult a doctor and do everything possible to start treatment as early as possible.
How to determine household syphilis of the secondary form?
Symptoms of household syphilis of the secondary form are characterized by the spread of a rash throughout the body. The patient's lymph nodes begin to become inflamed. They have a pink tint and a smooth surface. There is no pain when pressing with your fingers. Pus does not form inside the lymph nodes. It is still possible to cure syphilis completely at this stage, after which the rash and swollen lymph nodes disappear. This stage can last from four months to four years. The temperature can also rise, and sharply. The patient may suffer from severe headaches and aching joints.
How to detect domestic tertiary syphilis?
Tertiary household syphilis remains dangerous for others, and extremely dangerous for the patient. Its manifestations will certainly appear even after a few years if the patient has not received treatment. The whole body is covered with ulcers, which turn into small tubercles. The lymph nodes are also enlarged. Damage to all internal organs begins. It is not uncommon for a patient to lose vision, followed by paralysis of the body and brain. He may lose his sense of smell, hearing, and taste. The patient's mood changes dramatically, and cases of depression and uncontrollable rage are not uncommon. Against the background of complications, a patient with syphilis may become insanity.
It is very important to identify and begin to treat household syphilis as quickly as possible. Symptoms of primary syphilis can be a manifestation of other diseases. But a doctor, if you contact him, and do not self-medicate for unknown reasons, will conduct a full examination, detect the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. Regarding syphilis, the rule is: the earlier, the better it also works.
So, let’s move on to consider what the probability of becoming infected with household syphilis is. Conversations about whether syphilis is transmitted through household means are ongoing. “Is it possible to become infected with syphilis through household means?” and “How is syphilis transmitted through household contact?” These questions are asked often. Many people consider this disease a relic of past centuries and do not accept the possibility of infection. Unfortunately, it is not. The disease continues to be dangerous and anyone can become infected. Doctors say that in recent years the incidence of syphilis has increased several times.
Is it possible to catch syphilis at home?
Doctors, in a sense, raised doubts about whether it is possible to become infected with everyday syphilis among ordinary people, without meaning to. How did this happen? There is widespread information that it is difficult to become infected with syphilis through domestic means. Doctors are disseminating information that most often the causative agent of the disease, Treponema pallidum, is sexually transmitted. This is true. But, unfortunately, explanations about the specifics of infection with household syphilis are rare. Most often, educational work is carried out with relatives of patients. They are the ones most at risk of infection. Doctors cannot be blamed for incompetence or negligence. The problem is completely different.
Let's try to figure out how everything happens. A patient comes to see a doctor. The examination shows that he has syphilis. At the early stage, which is called primary syphilis, people very rarely come forward. They just don't know what's happening to them. As already described above, secondary syphilis can go undetected for several years. Who remembers all their contacts for such a period. We're not talking about sexual things. Household cases of syphilis infection are possible through a cigarette smoked between two people, which is not uncommon among young people. It's the same with kisses. Yes, it very rarely happens that a person with syphilis has an ulcer in the mouth, and he comes into contact with a person whose oral mucosa is damaged. But is it so unrealistic? But this is also a household way of contracting syphilis. Alarming information is constantly being received about dishes in cheap cafes and methods for sterilizing them. Are cases of infection with household syphilis possible in low-quality establishments? Unfortunately, yes, the probability is high.
So let's return to our patient. He cannot say with complete certainty where he picked up Treponema pallidum. First of all, sexual partners are checked. It is impossible to check all contacts at the everyday level. It is possible that syphilis was contracted through domestic means. But this is extremely difficult to establish.
The highest percentage of infection with household syphilis occurs in the families of patients. Why is that? Everything is clear, it is in the family that the rules of personal hygiene are not strictly observed, contact is as close as possible. But that is not all. The family of a sick person is checked first. How to identify other contacts in a timely manner? This is very difficult to do.
There is another side to the coin. It is very embarrassing to admit that there was casual sexual contact. Syphilis is a shameful disease, public opinion very harshly condemns people who suffer from this disease. This is very wrong and unfair, no one is immune from this. Each sick person tries to hide the infection through sexual contact and first of all assumes the possibility of contracting syphilis through domestic means. Should we blame them for this? Is not a fact. Doctors primarily consider the sexual route. Accusations of lying to patients are not always justified or fair. The result is the following picture. The household method of transmission of syphilis is closely examined in relation to the family and immediate environment of the patient. This is not because doctors are negligent in their duties. It is simply unrealistic to fully cover all possible contacts, probabilities, options and routes of infection with household syphilis. What to do in such a situation?
How to protect yourself from household syphilis?
In this matter, hygiene and basic caution are very important. Hygiene items should be purely individual. Even during the holidays, it is necessary not to lose vigilance, which is only possible with moderate alcohol consumption. If wounds and ulcers appear on the mucous membranes, you must avoid close contact and immediately consult a doctor. What else do you need to know about the possibility of infection and methods of prevention?
- It is clear to realize that there is such a disease as household syphilis. The reality of infection is not great, but it exists.
- Understand that household syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with a patient, but also as a result of non-compliance with personal hygiene rules when using objects.
- Cases of domestic infection with syphilis are very likely in public catering establishments with a low level of service and disgusting sanitary conditions. They must be avoided.
- You can become infected with household syphilis if you do not strictly follow hygiene rules.
- It is very important not only to understand well what are the methods of transmission of household syphilis. You need to know what the signs of household syphilis are. A timely visit to a doctor will not only help you get rid of this disease with minimal losses. This will make it possible to avoid infecting family and friends.
The household method of infection with syphilis is possible under a combination of several circumstances; many factors must coincide. That is why stories from patients about infection with syphilis through domestic means are perceived very skeptically. Firstly, infection through household means is only possible if there is damage to the skin or mucous membranes. Secondly, the carrier of syphilis must use some object immediately before the person he infected. Treponema pallidum is very sensitive to the negative effects of the environment and very quickly becomes unable to harm a person. On items that are used in everyday life and for hygienic purposes, for example, dishes, towels, toothbrushes, Treponema pallidum remains infectious until it dries. At a temperature of 40-42°C, the bacterium is first activated and then dies. At temperatures above 55°C, Treponema pallidum dies within 15 minutes. It is also sensitive to chemicals, but over time, if the same substance is used, the bacterium gets used to it and develops resistance. Therefore, it is very important to regularly change disinfectants. At low temperatures and in the tissues of a corpse, the bacterium survives very well.
Infection with household syphilis can be obtained through bites and kisses. The third stage of the disease is less contagious. But patients with hard ulcerative chancre, erosions, rashes on the skin and mucous membranes, rashes and ulcers on the genitals and in the oral cavity are the most dangerous carriers of Treponema pallidum bacteria. A large number of aggressive and dangerous bacteria are concentrated in condylomas lata - the so-called growths of tissue of the genital organs. The likelihood of a child contracting this disease from a mother infected with syphilis while breastfeeding is incredibly high. It happens that medical workers become infected with syphilis from patients during procedures or during surgical operations; this disease is called occupational syphilis. It is very rare, but infection does occur during a blood transfusion procedure if the donor is infected with domestic syphilis.
How can household syphilis affect pregnancy?
Pregnancy in women infected with syphilis is complicated by hormonal imbalance. This significantly increases the risk of miscarriage or premature birth. Anemia occurs very often. Pregnancy has no effect on syphilis, but it has a very detrimental effect on the course of pregnancy and the development of the fetus. In most cases, a child becomes infected from a mother who has contracted domestic syphilis while still in the womb; infection occurs through the blood and placenta.
The most dangerous thing for the baby is secondary syphilis in the expectant mother. It is at this stage of the disease that most miscarriages and stillbirths occur. Oddly enough, a woman with tertiary syphilis has a greater chance of bearing and giving birth to a healthy baby. This happens even to women who have not been treated for the disease. If treatment for domestic syphilis was undertaken before the 16th week of pregnancy, the chances of having a healthy baby are greatly increased. Expectant mothers who contact the antenatal clinic are prescribed tests, one of which will help detect syphilis. It is unfortunate that an impressive number of women consult a doctor too late or are not seen by doctors at all during pregnancy. As a result, the baby in the womb is already infected, and it is impossible to help him.
How is household syphilis transmitted from mother to fetus?
Congenital syphilis is also common syphilis. Methods of distribution: maternal blood and placenta. Infection of the baby occurs at the 28-32nd week of pregnancy. Treponema pallidum enters the fetal body and begins to destroy all internal organs, skeleton and brain. The possibility of survival for such a child is minimal. If by some miracle he is born alive, he already suffers from the specific symptoms of syphilis. Such children have extensive rashes and wounds and scars on the skin. Their eyes, heart, liver are affected, very often the membranes of the brain are inflamed and dropsy of the brain develops. Diseases of the bones, joints, deformation of the teeth, skull, legs, and nose are observed. Children born with syphilis lag behind their peers in growth and slowly gain weight, they are weakened, and very often underdeveloped mentally and physically.
How is household syphilis infection diagnosed during pregnancy?
Every woman who comes to the antenatal clinic at the beginning of pregnancy is prescribed tests, including a blood test for syphilis. Such analyzes can be of two types:
- Standard tests are used for mass screenings for household syphilis. The most common analysis is the Wasserman reaction (RW). It shows a positive result approximately three weeks after the formation of an ulcer in household syphilis. If the result of this test is positive, an additional examination is prescribed.
- Precise treponemal methods. They are used to clarify and double-check the diagnosis; sometimes a positive RW result turns out to be false. The tests used are the following: immunofluorescence reaction (RIF), Treponema pallidum immobilization reaction (TPI) and the RW variant with treponemal antigen (TRNA). In special cases, computed tomography is used to diagnose syphilis of the central nervous system. Swabs are also taken from skin ulcers and rashes to check for the presence of Treponema pallidum bacteria.
How to treat household syphilis during pregnancy?
If the expectant mother is diagnosed with the disease “household syphilis,” she will most likely be offered treatment at a dermatovenerologic dispensary, although outpatient options are also possible. To combat the disease, antibiotics that include penicillin are most often used. If a woman is sick with primary syphilis, treatment lasts a month or more. With secondary and tertiary syphilis, everything is much more complicated; treatment lasts for years.
It happens that a woman discovered and treated a household form of syphilis before conceiving a child, but blood tests at the beginning of pregnancy again gave a positive result - she will be prescribed a course of treatment that will protect the child from congenital syphilis. It begins to be used at the 20th week of pregnancy. This treatment is safe for the fetus. Babies born from mothers infected with syphilis are also prescribed treatment; they are given antibacterial drugs for prevention.
Many people are interested in the answer to a rather painful question: “Is it necessary to have an abortion if the expectant mother received syphilis through domestic means?” There are no unambiguous and clear recommendations regarding termination of pregnancy in this case. Modern medicine has an arsenal to prevent infection of the fetus with syphilis. If the child is desired, doctors use all possible methods to save the baby’s life. If household syphilis is detected too late, termination of pregnancy is no longer possible. In this case, treatment of the mother is also treatment of the fetus.
How to treat household syphilis?
From time to time, advertisements begin to sound like: “Household syphilis - treatment with two injections.” Many believe this and try to cure a shameful disease in this way. What do doctors think about this? Doctors are very concerned and talk about the irresponsibility of people disseminating such information. This is how they treated it about 20 years ago. In modern conditions, such a method of treatment is permissible only for primary syphilis. For example, when the first signs of household syphilis are discovered on the lips. If these injections were prescribed to a person with secondary syphilis, they will only harm the patient and certainly will not help in any way. But such treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor. Why? It's very simple - one of the injections can kill the patient. Seems cruel, but it's true. The fact is that in this case the drug benzathine benzylpenicillin is used - an antibiotic that can also be found under the name extensil and retarpen. If a person is allergic to such drugs, anaphylactic shock occurs, which leads to death. Only an experienced venereologist, having established signs of domestic syphilis, refers the patient for examination. Many tests will be done, including tests for drug allergies, which will help draw conclusions about the most appropriate treatment method. If an allergic reaction to penicillin, which is very effective against syphilis, is detected, other drugs will be prescribed, for example, doxycycline.
Treatment of household syphilis should be carried out comprehensively; it is necessary to seek help from experienced doctors, and not from familiar nurses and healers who advertise themselves through the media. Doctors at venereology clinics regularly undergo training, where they study advanced developments in the treatment of venereal diseases and the newest drugs. Only they know everything about everyday syphilis. Each organism is individual. A certain treatment method will help one person quickly, but will not work for another or will cause even more harm. That is why you need to be treated by a good specialist who has knowledge, experience and intuition developed over many years.
When using antibiotics to treat the disease household syphilis, side effects occur quite often. They can be toxic, allergic and associated with an antimicrobial effect. Fever and severe headache are not uncommon during treatment. It is very important that during this time the patient is under close medical supervision. Household syphilis is too serious a disease; it is impossible to cure it on your own and without some suffering.
Treatment of household syphilis must be comprehensive; its duration cannot be shorter than two weeks. This happens very rarely when the disease is detected in the earliest stages and is performed on an outpatient basis. Typically, treatment takes at least 2-3 months for the primary form. Secondary household syphilis can be treated for at least one and a half years. Drugs for the treatment of household syphilis are prescribed by a doctor purely individually, after examination. After the course of treatment has been completed, the patient must undergo regular additional examinations and be observed by a doctor for at least several years. The period directly depends on the stage at which the disease was discovered and treatment began. You need to know that the body does not develop immunity to syphilis. This disease significantly weakens it. Re-infection is more than possible. Therefore, anyone who has suffered from household syphilis must take much stricter precautions.
All sexually mature individuals should know how syphilis is transmitted, since the venereal disease is characterized by severe damage to internal organs and can lead to disability or death. In terms of prevalence, the pathology ranks 3rd among all sexually transmitted infections.
Ways of transmission of syphilis infection
Depending on how syphilis is transmitted, the patient will experience corresponding symptoms. Causes treponema disease. The mucous membrane or skin is not a serious barrier for the microorganism. Penetration into the body of a healthy person occurs through scratches and microtraumas.
After infection, all human biological fluids will contain treponema, which makes the patient dangerous to others.
The mechanism of bacterial penetration depends on how syphilis is transmitted and through what route.
Sexual contact
Unprotected sexual intercourse is the main cause of widespread syphilis. The probability of infection ranges from 40 to 70%. If a person suffers from chronic diseases, has low immunity or other sexually transmitted infections, then the risk of infection reaches 90%.
You can get syphilis regardless of the type of sexual contact. Infection usually occurs during vaginal sex. The risk increases in the presence of mild chronic diseases. In women, this may be cervical erosion, cystitis or thrush. Men usually suffer from ureaplasmosis.
Unprotected oral sex is also dangerous to your health. Many people believe that through such contact the pathogen is not able to penetrate the body, but this is an erroneous assumption. A few weeks after exposure, syphilitic rashes will appear in the throat and mouth. During oral sex, treponemes penetrate into a healthy body through saliva or secretions from the genitals. Therefore, barrier contraceptives are necessary even during blowjob.
Anal intercourse is accompanied by severe trauma, so the infection can be transmitted to a sexual partner through the resulting cracks and scratches. Rashes and chancre in this area go unnoticed for a long time, so by the time the disease is diagnosed, the patient’s health is greatly deteriorated.
Infection with syphilis is possible even during a kiss. The likelihood of transmitting infection depends on whether there is a rash in the mouth. The risk of infection increases with repeated contact with a sick person, but once is enough to put your health at risk. Barrier contraceptives allow you to protect yourself as much as possible from negative consequences. They do not provide a 100% guarantee, but they reduce the risk by at least 90%.
Through the blood
Treponemas spread throughout the body through the blood. Therefore, organ transplantation from a sick patient or blood transfusion will lead to the development of an infectious process. There is a minimal chance of infection in this way; it does not exceed 2%. The reason for this is multiple checks and examinations before blood or internal organs are taken from a patient for transplantation.
A more likely method of infection is the use of one syringe or container for preparing a narcotic drug. Doctors have recorded cases where infection through blood occurred during a fight with multiple open wounds and the patient’s fluid getting ingested.
The blood of a patient with syphilis remains infectious throughout the course of the infection.
This means that the patient remains dangerous to other people. A minor injury to the mucous membrane, the use of unsterile medical instruments or manicure devices can cause a serious illness.
Skin rashes on the patient’s body, from which blood or clear liquid oozes, pose the greatest danger. A high concentration of treponemes accumulates there and through any microcrack they quickly enter a healthy body.
From mother to child
The disease can be transmitted vertically quite successfully. Infection of a baby is possible even during the prenatal period. Treponemas quickly overcome the placenta, so the baby appears with a congenital form of syphilis. If complications occur, stillbirth or death of the baby occurs in the womb. With this method of infection, there is a high risk of miscarriage, especially at 6 months of pregnancy.
If the child was born alive, then syphilis transmitted from the mother will negatively affect its development. It is more difficult for children to fight treponema because their body is not yet strong enough. Lack of treatment leads to disruption of all vital organs. The result is disability or mental retardation.
When infected with syphilis in late pregnancy, the treponemes may not have time to cross the placenta. In this case, infection can be avoided by Caesarean section, otherwise the baby will become infected during passage through the birth canal.
Through breast milk
Even after completing therapy during pregnancy, doctors advise women in labor to stop breastfeeding. Milk may contain pathogens, albeit in minimal quantities. This will be enough for the child to become infected. Women who have had syphilis are advised to stick to artificial feeding.
With the vertical method of transmission of the disease, the period at which the infection occurred is of great importance. Infection in early pregnancy carries the greatest danger.
Through non-disinfected instruments
The infection can spread to other patients due to negligence or disregard for established standards. If instruments have not been disinfected, there is a high risk of infection. In this case, employees are held criminally liable for violating job descriptions.
Treponemas are not resistant to sunlight, high temperature and lack of moisture. They cannot survive for a long time outside the human body. A prerequisite for the transmission of the disease is the presence of scratches or microcracks. Treponema cannot overcome the entire skin.
Household route of infection
The causative agent of household syphilis is the same treponema. They are not resistant to acids, antiseptic solutions and alkali. Based on this, doctors recommend taking preventive measures to prevent a dangerous disease.
The likelihood of syphilis occurring through household infection is minimal.
Healthy people do not experience this because they have a strong immune system. Infection occurs through contact and household contact with a sick person. Treponemas penetrate in places where there is a thin layer of horny epithelium, that is, through the mucous membrane (even whole) or damaged skin.
You can get sick when visiting a public swimming pool, bathhouse, sauna or using other people's personal hygiene products. From medical practice it is known that transmission of the disease is possible through:
- towel;
- dishes;
- toothbrush;
- razor;
- syringes;
- bed sheets;
- personal belongings.
A patient who has been diagnosed with syphilis must use only personal belongings and warn all close people about this. The primary form of syphilis is considered the most dangerous in terms of infection; it lasts no more than 2 years if left untreated.
Small children are usually infected through household contact with sick adults or their peers. Parents need to ensure that children do not put other people’s toys into their mouths, since you do not know anything about the health status of the other child. The symptoms of household syphilis are the same as with other methods of infection, ranging from minor diseases to serious necrotic processes.
Professional
Representatives of some professions are regularly at risk because they come into contact with genital secretions, saliva or blood of sick people. You can also become infected during an operation if blood gets into a wound on the surgeon’s body or into the mucous membrane during the process.
In the medical field, pathologists are also at risk. Before opening the body, they need to protect themselves and make sure there are no open cuts. Dentists can become infected with syphilis if there are ulcers or bleeding lumps in the patient’s mouth. In the absence of pain and acute inflammation, the patient may be refused admission so as not to endanger the doctor.
Treponemas are able to survive on the surface of instruments for some time. We are talking not only about medical equipment, but also about products used in cosmetology. Women in labor suffering from syphilis endanger the gynecologist and midwives. The infection is contained in the blood and secretions of the woman, as well as the child himself.
Infection of medical staff and representatives of other professions who come into contact with sick patients occurs quite rarely.
Doctors are aware of the existing risk, so they sterilize all instruments and reliably protect themselves from the penetration of bacteria.
What is the most common route of infection with syphilis?
Most often, people become infected with syphilis during sexual intercourse. Several centuries ago, it was believed that syphilis was a shameful disease that only affected immoral individuals. Now everyone understands the complexity of the situation. You can become infected with a sexually transmitted disease even when using someone else's personal hygiene products, while visiting a sauna or a bad hotel where the sheets are not changed.
Knowing how syphilis is transmitted, you can take measures and protect yourself from the negative consequences of the infection. To prevent the disease, it is necessary to use barrier contraceptives during sex and use local antiseptics to treat the genitals. Doctors recommend chlorhexidine or miramistin. These drugs are used topically after sexual intercourse; they reduce the risk of infection, but do not guarantee results. It is also recommended to undergo a full examination twice a year and see a venereologist.
To prevent infection with household syphilis, you need to use only your personal belongings, hygiene products, cosmetics (lipstick is at risk), in public places - disposable tableware, in medical institutions - disposable syringes and individual gynecological examination kits (for women). You should also not smoke one cigarette between two people. Your partner's saliva may contain Treponema pallidum.
We must not forget about all kinds of medical procedures. There is a high chance of becoming infected through a blood transfusion or during dental procedures if the clinic staff is not responsible enough for their duties. Doctors themselves can also suffer from contact with sick people or even the corpses of patients. The bodies of children with congenital syphilis are especially dangerous for pathologists. When opening them, special care should be taken.
The contagiousness of the sweat and urine of a syphilitic patient has not been proven, so theoretically, a handshake and touch do not pose a threat. But on the skin of both a healthy and sick person there may be microcracks, cuts and other injuries invisible to the eye. They pose a real danger, so it is imperative to observe at least basic hygiene standards (washing your hands after returning from the street).
Even when going on a first date, you need to remember: when kissing, the risk of contracting household syphilis is very high. The mucous membrane in the mouth is not protected if there are wounds on it. Checking your readiness for a first date is very simple. It is enough to brush your teeth. If your gums are bleeding, you will have to forget about kissing that evening.
According to WHO, 12 million new cases of syphilis infection are detected annually (about 3-5% of them are spread through household transmission). These are only those patients about whom it became known. Many patients hide their condition and treat themselves, putting others at risk. Cases of household infection are more common in children and adolescents, so they should be protected from infection in the first place.
Infection with syphilis through household means occurs through close contact of healthy people with objects on which a patient with syphilis has left treponema pallidum.
Since the causative agent of syphilis can only live under certain temperature and humidity conditions, it usually dies quickly in the environment. Therefore, cases of infection with household syphilis are not very common compared to sexual transmission.
But still, this happens in families and groups where there is an infected person with a manifest form of syphilis, that is, with manifestations: ulcers, erosions, chancroid and bleeding elements on the skin and mucous membranes, on the surface of which there is a huge number of pale treponema.
How is household syphilis transmitted?
- When using shared towels, washcloths, bedding, clothes, dishes that have been exposed to secretions or blood of a sick person.
- Using one razor and toothbrush. Sometimes the infection can get from a nearby toothbrush of a person with syphilis.
- Taking a general bath, especially if a sick woman has menstrual flow, or the spirochete gets onto the surface of the plumbing from erosive and ulcerative elements.
- The cause of infection can also be various cuts, injuries, abrasions, cracks when damaged skin comes into contact with the biological fluids of a patient with syphilis (blood, urine, saliva, semen, breast milk). This can even happen in a public toilet.
- Infection with syphilis through household means can occur during contact sports.
Household syphilis is more common in children whose families have a sick person. Their skin and mucous membranes are thinner and often show signs of trauma. Children observe the rules of personal hygiene less and become infected, especially if the adult does not know about syphilis or does not take any action to protect others from infection.
Many doubted whether syphilis was transmitted through everyday life, or whether it was an invention of venereologists to protect spousal spouses from conflicts in the family. In fact, doctors often resort to this diagnosis at the request of patients in order to explain the appearance of syphilis not through sexual transmission, which actually occurred, but through everyday life and to smooth out the sharp edges of the current situation. But these are only special cases. Infection with syphilis through household means does occur, and to prevent it, a number of measures are required both on the part of the sick person and on the part of those who do not want to become infected with it.
- An infected person should keep their hygiene products separate from others.
- After using a shared bath or toilet, surfaces must be treated with a disinfectant solution.
- Must have individual bed linen and sleeping place for the duration of treatment.
- Do not resort to planned medical procedures until recovery (dentistry, cosmetology, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, etc.).
- When visiting public places, healthy people should, as much as possible, avoid contact of exposed skin with the surface of objects that could be touched by a sick person (handles, toilet flush buttons, faucet valves, toilet lids). It is better to use toilet paper for this.
- Under no circumstances should you touch your genitals, anal area or other mucous membranes after touching these objects. Before doing this, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
Household syphilis usually lacks the typical manifestations of this infection. The primary syphilitic affect is a hard chancre that either does not form at all, or does not appear on the genitals, but at the site where Treponema pallidum is introduced, that is, anywhere, even on the back, even on the back of the head. If there are no primary manifestations, then the disease begins to develop immediately from the second stage, that is, from secondary syphilis.
Infection with syphilis through domestic means has been encountered in the practice of our venereologists more than once. But, thanks to properly selected therapy, it was always possible to help such patients.
Syphilis is a chronic venereal disease characterized by severe damage to many organs and systems - in advanced forms, irreversible and disabling. Syphilis is the third most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Therefore, the question of how to contract syphilis interests many.
According to official statistics, about 12 million people fall victim to this serious disease every year. However, this figure cannot be considered reliable, since many patients self-medicate, do not contact specialists, or apply anonymously without involving a source in treatment.
The infection is widespread. The main age group among the sick are people from 15 to 40 years old. Syphilis is most common among young people 20-29 years old.
This dangerous infection remains a pressing problem for both doctors and the population. Knowledge of how syphilis is transmitted will help many protect themselves from infection.
Ways of spreading syphilis
The causative agent of the infection is a bacterium from the genus spirochete(treponema) is a pale spirochete. Neither mucous membranes nor skin are a serious barrier for it. It is able to penetrate the human body through microtraumas of the skin and mucous membranes invisible to the eye. From the moment of infection, all liquid biological substances in the body contain the spirochete and pose a danger to other persons upon contact with them.
The first information about syphilis dates back to the 15th century. From that time until the discovery of antibiotics, the disease was classified as a serious, disabling illness that significantly shortened the life of the patient. The modern version of the infection, against the background of the widespread use of antibiotics for other pathologies, in some patients leads to the development of the disease in an erased, latent form. The routes of infection with syphilis can be different.
The main routes of transmission of syphilis:
- Sexual tract: Syphilis infection occurs through unprotected sexual contact. It is the main method of transmission of syphilis, since both semen and vaginal secretions contain a significant amount of Treponema pallidum.
The likelihood of contracting syphilis in women is higher, since the area for penetration of the spirochete is larger, and microtrauma to the vaginal mucosa easily occurs during sexual intercourse. Syphilis is transmitted through any type of sex: vaginal, anal, oral. But, nevertheless, anal intercourse is the most dangerous due to the frequent occurrence of microdamages of the anus and mucous membrane.
Therefore, syphilis is registered more often in men (due to the spread of homosexual relationships). In homosexuals (they make up 60% of all patients with syphilis), who also practice oral sex, syphilomas form not only on the genitals and rectum, but also in the mouth.
The appearance of specific syphilitic ulcerations in the mouth can also be observed in heterosexual partners who have sex without a condom. Syphilides in the oral cavity are not only invisible to the partner, but also do not cause concern to the patient himself. How can you get syphilis from such a person? Easy: contracting syphilis from it is possible not only through oral sex, but even through kissing.
Even with a single sexual intercourse with a patient, infection of the partner with syphilis occurs in 50% of cases.
A special feature of the infection is that the spirochete can be transmitted to another person at any stage of the disease. Therefore, even during the incubation period, an infected person, not yet knowing about his problem, can become a source of infection for many by having sexual contact with them.
- Household way, although less common, it is possible among family members of the sick person. The pale spirochete does not remain viable for long on personal items, so cases of household syphilis are rare.
Family members can become infected through:
- towel;
- washcloth;
- cutlery;
- cups and other utensils;
- toothbrush;
- lipstick;
- cigarettes;
- linen.
A humid environment increases the viability of treponema. The possibility of infection being transmitted to relatives increases during the secondary period of the disease. Through skin-to-skin contact or a handshake, infection is possible in the presence of open syphilitic ulcers on the patient’s body and microtraumas to the skin of a healthy person.
With syphilitic rashes on the lips or mouth, transmission of the infection is possible through saliva during kissing. But it is also necessary to have damage to the mucous membrane or skin of a healthy person.
Transmission of the pallidum spirochete by airborne droplets does not occur. The condition for the development of household syphilis is a violation of basic hygiene rules.
- Transfer via blood or infection through blood transfusion. Infection from a blood transfusion from a donor with a sexually transmitted disease is unlikely, since a preliminary examination of the donor is carried out before taking his blood.
This route is more significant for users of injecting drugs when using one common syringe. In everyday life, this route can lead to infection when sharing shaving accessories and manicure sets. There may be traces of blood on these items. You can also become infected through blood when providing assistance without rubber gloves to an injury to a patient with syphilis.
- It is important to know how syphilis is transmitted from a sick mother to a child. This transmission path is called vertical. If infection occurs in the womb, this is due to the ability of the pale spirochete to overcome the placental barrier. Infection through the placenta leads to the development of congenital syphilis, which can cause intrauterine fetal death or stillbirth. Miscarriage most often occurs in late stages of pregnancy (at 5-6 months).
If fetal death does not occur, then the child is born premature with manifestations of congenital syphilis. If the child survives, the disease leads to disruption of the functioning of all organs and systems. In addition to the transplacental method of transmission of infection, it is possible that the child may become infected during childbirth due to contact with the mother’s blood while passing through the birth canal. To prevent such infection, a woman often gives birth surgically (caesarean section).
It is also possible to transmit the pathogen (pale spirochete) to a child through breast milk. Therefore, children born from mothers with syphilis are given artificial feeding. In case of vertical transmission of infection, the timing of pregnancy is important if the woman’s infection occurred during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman gets sick in the early stages of pregnancy, then the risk of infection of the fetus reaches 80%, and if in the later stages, then the risk is minimal.
- Professional path: It is important for healthcare workers to know how they become infected with syphilis while on duty.
Infection can occur:
- during surgery if the surgeon’s hands are damaged and the wound comes into contact with the patient’s blood;
- in case of injury to the hands of a pathologist during an autopsy of a patient with syphilis;
- a dentist can become infected through the patient’s saliva or blood if there is damage on his hands or if there are syphilitic manifestations in the oral cavity;
- obstetricians-gynecologists when examining women, conducting childbirth through vaginal discharge, the blood of a woman and a newborn;
- laboratory assistants when conducting research on various patient substrates.
In the event of an emergency (damage to the hands of a medical worker with instruments during procedures and manipulations), a preventive course of treatment is carried out to prevent infection.
Risk group
Knowing how the disease spreads, we can identify a group at increased risk of infection, which includes:
- sexual partners of patients with syphilis during unprotected sexual contact;
- persons with non-traditional sexual orientation;
- persons with promiscuous sexual intercourse;
- drug users;
- persons engaged in prostitution;
- children of mothers with syphilis;
- persons who abuse alcohol (while intoxicated, they often enter into casual relationships without using a condom).
The incubation period is often 3-4 weeks. It can be shortened to 1-2 weeks in case of simultaneous infection from several sources or extended to 6 months. when infected during antibiotic treatment for another disease. Without any manifestations of the disease, the infected person is capable of spreading the infection and infecting others in any of the possible ways.
Only a serious attitude towards your health, knowledge of the ways of infection with sexually transmitted diseases, the use of barrier protection during sexual intercourse, giving up bad habits, and maintaining basic personal hygiene will help you avoid situations with the likelihood of infection.
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