open access

Vol 3, No 4 (2017)
Research paper
Published online: 2018-03-01
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Assessment of syphilis in patients hospitalized in the Department of Dermatology, Venerelogy and Allergology in Wroclaw between 2009 and 2016

Dominika Wyglądacz1, Amelia Głowaczewska2, Kamila Jaworecka1, Małgorzata Pięt1, Adam Reich3
Forum Dermatologicum 2017;3(4):143-146.
Affiliations
  1. Studenckie Koło Naukowe Dermatologii Eksperymentalnej przy Katedrze i Klinice Dermatologii, Wenerologii i Alergologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego we Wrocławiu, Chałubińskiego 1, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
  2. Katedra i Klinika Dermatologii, Wenerologii i Alergologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego we Wrocławiu, Chałubińskiego 1, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
  3. Department of Dermatology, University of Rzeszow, Szopena 2, 35-055 Rzeszów, Poland

open access

Vol 3, No 4 (2017)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Published online: 2018-03-01

Abstract

Introduction: Syphilis is the systemic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum. It is a chronic process and has very rich symptomatology. Infection is possible by sexual contacts, bloodstream or transplacental.

Objective: The aim of our study was an objective analysis of the population infected by Treponema palladium based on medical documentation.

Material and methods: It was a retrospective analysis of medical documentation of the patients who were treated between 2009 and 2016 because of syphilis in the Department of Dermatology Venereology and Allergology in Wroclaw. A specially designed questionnaire consisting of questions about demographic data, medical history and present disease was completed. A total of 69 patients (43 men (62.3%) and 26 women (37.7%) (including 15 pregnant women)) were recruited for the study.  

Results: Patients infected with syphilis belonged to various epidemiological groups. Early syphilis was diagnosed in 50.7% (n = 35) of patients, late syphilis in 46.4% (n = 32), whereas congenital syphilis was found in 2.9% (n = 2) of subjects. Regarding early syphilis, primary syphilis was observed in 17.1%, secondary syphilis in 54.3% whereas latent syphilis was found in 28.6% of patients. Latent late syphilis accounted for 81.2% of late syphilis cases, others manifested symptomatic late syphilis (18.8%). The primary lesions were observed by 29% of patients: 10 subjects found it on the penis, 4 in the oral cavity, 3 in the anus and 3 on the labia. Remarkably, 71% of patients did not notice the primary chancre. Syphilitic exanthema was observed by 39% of patients, condylomata lata by 2 patients, syphilitic angina by 3 persons, and syphilitic alopecia by 1 person. Recurrent febrile status was found in 4 patients.

Conclusions: Sexually transmitted diseases, especially syphilis, are still a very important medical problem. Despite the common access to penicillin, which allows to cure these disease, it appears that syphilis is still quite prevalent disease. To limit spreading of syphilis an early diagnosis, assurance of treatment and more widely distributed prevention programs are necessary.

Abstract

Introduction: Syphilis is the systemic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum. It is a chronic process and has very rich symptomatology. Infection is possible by sexual contacts, bloodstream or transplacental.

Objective: The aim of our study was an objective analysis of the population infected by Treponema palladium based on medical documentation.

Material and methods: It was a retrospective analysis of medical documentation of the patients who were treated between 2009 and 2016 because of syphilis in the Department of Dermatology Venereology and Allergology in Wroclaw. A specially designed questionnaire consisting of questions about demographic data, medical history and present disease was completed. A total of 69 patients (43 men (62.3%) and 26 women (37.7%) (including 15 pregnant women)) were recruited for the study.  

Results: Patients infected with syphilis belonged to various epidemiological groups. Early syphilis was diagnosed in 50.7% (n = 35) of patients, late syphilis in 46.4% (n = 32), whereas congenital syphilis was found in 2.9% (n = 2) of subjects. Regarding early syphilis, primary syphilis was observed in 17.1%, secondary syphilis in 54.3% whereas latent syphilis was found in 28.6% of patients. Latent late syphilis accounted for 81.2% of late syphilis cases, others manifested symptomatic late syphilis (18.8%). The primary lesions were observed by 29% of patients: 10 subjects found it on the penis, 4 in the oral cavity, 3 in the anus and 3 on the labia. Remarkably, 71% of patients did not notice the primary chancre. Syphilitic exanthema was observed by 39% of patients, condylomata lata by 2 patients, syphilitic angina by 3 persons, and syphilitic alopecia by 1 person. Recurrent febrile status was found in 4 patients.

Conclusions: Sexually transmitted diseases, especially syphilis, are still a very important medical problem. Despite the common access to penicillin, which allows to cure these disease, it appears that syphilis is still quite prevalent disease. To limit spreading of syphilis an early diagnosis, assurance of treatment and more widely distributed prevention programs are necessary.

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Keywords

syphilis, clinical characteristics, sexually transmitted diseases, treatment

About this article
Title

Assessment of syphilis in patients hospitalized in the Department of Dermatology, Venerelogy and Allergology in Wroclaw between 2009 and 2016

Journal

Forum Dermatologicum

Issue

Vol 3, No 4 (2017)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

143-146

Published online

2018-03-01

Page views

593

Article views/downloads

7681

Bibliographic record

Forum Dermatologicum 2017;3(4):143-146.

Keywords

syphilis
clinical characteristics
sexually transmitted diseases
treatment

Authors

Dominika Wyglądacz
Amelia Głowaczewska
Kamila Jaworecka
Małgorzata Pięt
Adam Reich

References (8)
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  2. Jabłońska S, Majewski S. Choroby skóry i choroby przenoszona drogą płciową. Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL 2005.
  3. Chapel TA, Chapel TA, Chapel TA. The signs and symptoms of secondary syphilis. Sex Transm Dis. 1980; 7(4): 161–164.
  4. Alexander JM, Sheffield JS, Sanchez PJ, et al. Efficacy of treatment for syphilis in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 1999; 93(1): 5–8.
  5. Birnbaum NR, Goldschmidt RH, Buffett WO. Resolving the common clinical dilemmas of syphilis. Am Fam Physician. 1999; 59(8): 2233–40, 2245.
  6. Musher DM. Syphilis, neurosyphilis, penicillin, and AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1991; 163(6): 1201–1206.
  7. Mahoney JF, Arnold RC, Harris A. Penicillin Treatment of Early Syphilis-A Preliminary Report. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1943; 33(12): 1387–1391.
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recommendations for partner services programs for HIV infection, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydial infection. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2008; 57(RR-9): 1–83; quiz CE1.

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