primary syphilis

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.

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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.