Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

syphilis 355
tend to wait for the throat culture results before
prescribing antibiotic medications unless the person
has a history of strep throat.
ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATIONS TO TREAT STREP THROAT
ampicillin
azithromycin
cefaclor
cefazolin
cefuroxime
cephalexin
clarithromycin
penicillin VK
Most people recover fully with appropriate
antibiotic therapy, with symptoms dramatically
improved within 48 hours of starting the antibiotic.
It is important to take the full course of
antibiotic therapy even when symptoms are gone
to make sure the antibiotic completely eliminates
the strep bacteria. Possible complications of strep
throat, which are more likely to occur with
delayed treatment or in untreated strep throat, are
serious and include PERITONSILLAR ABSCESS,
GLOMERULONEPHRITIS (strep infection involving the
KIDNEYS), and rheumatic heart disease (strep infection
involving the HEART valves).
Risk Factors and Preventive Measures
Strep throat is most common in children between
the ages of 5 and 15, though people of any age
may acquire the infection. People who have their
tonsils have greater risk. Diligent PERSONAL HYGIENE;
frequent HAND WASHING; and avoiding the sharing
of drinks, foods, and eating utensils among family
members or friends are measures that can reduce
the risk for exposure to the strep bacteria.
See also ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE; MENINGITIS; SCAR-
LET FEVER; TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME.
syphilis A sexually transmitted disease (STD)
that results from INFECTION with the bacterium
Treponema pallidum. Syphilis spreads through vaginal
intercourse, anal intercourse, and oral sex. It
is not possible to acquire syphilis from objects
such as toilet seats or in hot tubs. Syphilis is
curable with appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Untreated syphilis can cause widespread damage
in the body. Congenital syphilis, which a pregnant
woman who has syphilis can pass to her unborn
child, can cause numerous abnormalities or STILL-
BIRTH.
Symptoms and Diagnostic Path
Untreated syphilis has four stages: primary, secondary,
latent, and tertiary. Symptoms are specific
to the stage of illness. Diagnosis typically occurs
through BLOOD tests that confirm the presence of
antibodies or examination of cell samples (such as
from body fluids) under a microscope that reveal
the presence of T. pallidum BACTERIA.
Primary syphilis Primary syphilis is the first
manifestation of illness and occurs two to six
weeks after infection with T. pallidum. Its symptom
is the formation of a painless, ulcerlike sore (chancre)
at the site where the infection entered the
body. Because this site may be inside the VAGINA in
a woman or within the URETHRA in a man, the
chancre often goes undetected and heals.
Secondary syphilis Though the chancre heals
the T. pallidum bacteria continue to multiply and
invade the blood circulation, which carries them
throughout the body. The characteristic symptoms
of secondary syphilis emerge about two months
after the chancre and include
• skin RASH of brown spots or sores that involves
the palms of the hands and soles of the feet as
well as other locations on the body
• mucous patches in the vagina or MOUTH and on
the PENIS
• condylomata lata, which are spongy, wartlike
patches that often appear on the labia (women)
or SCROTUM (men)
• low-grade FEVER (around 100ºF)
• sore THROAT and HEADACHE
Secondary syphilis lasts up to three months,
during which the person can spread the infection
to others through nonsexual as well as sexual
contact because the sores of the rash contain T.
pallidum bacteria. Some people experience outbreaks
of secondary syphilis symptoms for a year
or longer.
Latent syphilis In latent syphilis the bacteria
remain in the body but cause no symptoms. During
this stage the person cannot pass the infection to
other people. Latent syphilis may last for decades,
during which the bacteria silently attack the NER-
VOUS SYSTEM, joints, HEART, and other structures.