Post Date December, 03 2023
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that we have heard a lot about in our daily lives and know it has a certain degree of infectivity. Therefore, many people are afraid of getting this disease. Syphilis has a great impact on the physical and psychological health of patients, so we must immediately go to a regular hospital for treatment. What is the route of infection for syphilis? What are the hazards of syphilis? How to prevent syphilis?
What is the transmission route of syphilis?
1. Sexual contact transmission
95% of the total modes of transmission. Mainly through sexual activity or other sexual behaviors, such as homosexuality, kissing, etc. Treponema pallidum is commonly found on the skin and mucosal surfaces of the genitals and other parts of patients with stage I and II syphilis, as well as in saliva, semen, milk, urine, and blood. Untreated syphilis patients are most infectious during the 1-2 stages of infection. As the disease progresses, the infectivity decreases, and after 4 years, it becomes non communicable through sexual contact.
2. Maternal transmission
When a newborn is born, damage to the head and shoulders or contact with the mother's genitalia can infect the mother's genital spirochete, causing acquired syphilis in the baby.
3. Placental transmission
Untreated syphilis in pregnant women can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta. Among patients in the first or second stage, the most spirochetes are present in the blood. Untreated miscarriage or stillbirth is about 50%, and the risk of intrauterine transmission of syphilis is about 50%. After one year of infection with syphilis, the risk of placental transmission gradually decreases to less than 50%. If the disease lasts for more than 4 years, it is not contagious through sexual contact, but can still be transmitted to the fetus. The longer the disease, the less contagious it is.
4. Bloodborne infection
If the donor is a latent syphilitic patient, the blood they provide may contain Treponema pallidum. The body of the recipient who receives blood will be infected, so the patient will not develop symptoms of primary syphilis and will directly develop symptoms of secondary syphilis. Therefore, it is very important to conduct syphilis serological screening tests on blood donors.
What are the hazards of syphilis?
1. The harm of syphilis can cause the virus in syphilis to invade the central nervous system. Spinal cord tuberculosis, paralytic dementia, optic nerve atrophy, etc.
2. The syphilis spiral can damage the skeletal system. Causing organizational damage, loss of function, disability, or death is the most serious form of syphilis harm.
3. The spirochete in syphilis harms the cardiovascular system. The harm of syphilis can lead to aortitis, aortic valve insufficiency, aortic aneurysm, etc. This is also one of the manifestations of syphilis harm.
4. The structural variation of Treponema pallidum results in drug resistance. Every pathogenic microorganism has its own characteristic of variation, and spirochetes are no exception. Mutated Treponema pallidum, such as an upgraded computer operating system, has more complete functions and stronger toxicity, making it difficult to treat syphilis.
5 Habits to Develop in Preventing Syphilis
1. Develop good hygiene habits
Firstly, male friends should develop good hygiene habits to prevent syphilis infection. Bathing in public bathrooms without hygiene protection, not sharing handkerchiefs, razors, tableware, etc., and coming into contact with contaminated clothing and utensils from patients can also infect syphilis.
2. Conduct necessary syphilis tests before marriage
For unmarried men and women, it is also necessary to undergo necessary syphilis tests before marriage and pregnancy tests for married women. Pregnant women infected with syphilis can transmit syphilis to the fetus in the abdomen through the placenta, and can also infect newborns through the birth canal. Therefore, premarital and prenatal examinations are important means to eliminate the birth of syphilis babies.
3. Eliminate unclean sexual intercourse
One important thing for male friends to prevent syphilis is to resolutely prevent the occurrence of unclean sexual intercourse.
4. Separable living utensils for syphilis patients and their families
If a male friend has already contracted syphilis, it is necessary to undergo persistent treatment and pay attention to separating their daily necessities from those of their family and friends to avoid spreading the virus to their families, leading to the expansion of the syphilis "area".
5. Male friends should use condoms
During sexual activity, male friends should use condoms to effectively prevent syphilis infection. Through sexual contact with current patients (including general sexual intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, and kissing), it has been proven to be the main route of syphilis transmission. Therefore, advocating for a single sexual partner, not having sexual intercourse with infected individuals, adopting protective sexual behavior, and promoting the use of condoms has been proven to be the most effective way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
