primary syphilis

syphilis /syph·i·lis/ (sif´ĭ-lis) a venereal disease caused by Treponema pallidum, leading to many structural and cutaneous lesions, transmitted by direct sexual contact or in utero. See primary s., secondary s., and tertiary s. syphilit´ic

---

congenital syphilis  syphilis acquired in utero, manifested by any of several characteristic malformations of teeth or bones and by active mucocutaneous syphilis at birth or shortly thereafter, and by ocular or neurologic changes.

endemic syphilis , nonvenereal syphilis a chronic inflammatory infection caused by a treponema morphologically indistinguishable from Treponema pallidum, transmitted nonsexually; the early stage is marked by mucous patches and by moist papules in the axillae and skin folds; a latent stage and finally late complications, including gummata, follow.

primary syphilis  syphilis in its first stage, the primary lesion being a chancre, which is infectious and painless; the nearby lymph nodes become hard and swollen.

secondary syphilis  syphilis in the second of three stages, with fever, multiform skin eruptions (syphilids), iritis, alopecia, mucous patches, and severe pain in the head, joints, and periosteum.

tertiary syphilis  late generalized syphilis, with involvement of many organs and tissues, including skin, bones, joints, and cardiovascular and central nervous systems; see also tabes dorsalis.

---

primary syphilis

n.

The first stage of syphilis, marked by formation of a painless chancre at the point of infection and by hardening and swelling of adjacent lymph nodes.

---

primary syphilis.

See syphilis.

---

syphilis (sif´ilis) (lues),

n a sexually transmitted disease caused by
T. pallidum and usually transmitted by direct contact. Oral lesions include primary chancre, secondary mucous patches and split papule, and tertiary gumma.

syphilis, congenital,

n a type that is transmitted prenatally by the mother to the fetus. Congenital syphilis may lead to Hutchinson's incisors, mulberry molars, or rhagades. See also chancre; gumma; incisors, Hutchinson's; molar, mulberry; patch, mucous; and Treponema pallidum.

Congenital syphilis.

syphilis, latent,

n a stage in which no clinical signs or symptoms of the disease are present. It is usually discovered by serologic tests.

syphilis, primary,

n a stage characterized by the appearance of a small painless pustule on the skin of a mucous membrane within 10 to 90 days after exposure. The lesion may appear anywhere on the body where contact with a lesion on an infected person has occurred, but it is most often seen in the anogenital region. It quickly erodes, forming a painless, bloodless ulcer, called a
chancre, exuding a fluid that swarms with spirochetes. The disease is highly contagious during this stage.

Primary syphilis.

syphilis, secondary,

n a stage that occurs about 2 months after the primary stage. Secondary syphilis is characterized by general malaise, anorexia, nausea, fever, headache, alopecia, bone and joint pain, or the appearance of a morbilliform rash that does not itch, flat white sores in the oral cavity and throat, and condylomata lata papules on the moist areas of the skin. The disease is highly contagious during this stage.

Secondary syphilis.

syphilis, tertiary,

n stage may not develop for 3 to 15 years after the initial infection. It is characterized by the appearance of soft, rubbery tumors, called
gummas; the valves of the heart may be damaged, and late stages may lead to mental or physical disability and premature death.

Tertiary syphilis.

---

primary syphilis

Infectious disease A common STD caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum transmitted through sexual contact–especially since toilet seats have been definitively excluded Sobering factoid Risk of contracting syphilis from an infected sex partner after one episode of unprotected sex is 30% Epidemiology US, 100,000 new cases/yr–third most commonly reported STD, gonorrhea is first, herpes is numero dos; it is more common in urban areas, in the south, ages 15 to 25, and may be asymptomatic Stages Primary, secondary, latent–hidden, benign late, tertiary Clinical Usually presents as a small painless ulcer–ie, a chancre, 10 days to 6 wks post exposure which, if on the penis, is easily diagnosed, but not on the labia, cervix, anal area, or mouth Appearance Shallow, sharply defined borders, slightly raised edges, base of the ulcer is clean and free of debris, it is typically painless and indurated; untreated chancres heal spontaneously within 6 to 8 wks, leaving a thin, depressed atrophic scar, signaling the end of the primary stage; T pallidum continues to multiply in the body and, untreated, give rise to secondary syphilis. See Congenital syphilis, Secondary syphilis.