Lesions of the oral mucosa in syphilis

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Syphilis on the lips

is a manifestation of a chronic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Rashes in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle, lips and oral mucosa can form during any period of the disease. The appearance of elements of a rash or chancre in the oral cavity in most cases indicates sexual transmission through oral sex.

A rash on the lips may indicate that chancre is localized somewhere nearby, or the person has already moved on to the stage of secondary syphilis. Syphilis on the lips forms an aesthetic defect, the relief of which requires the correct approach to treatment.

Causes and course of the disease

The development of syphilis of the pharynx is possible at all 3 stages of the disease.

Primary lesions are more often in the nasopharynx than in the oropharynx. Moreover, infection can also occur through the use of infected medical instruments (iatrogenic factor of infection).

When the nasopharynx is affected, the most common manifestations of the disease are:

• Enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck, which in some cases are very pronounced;
• Severe pain when swallowing, which radiates to the ear and is accompanied by congestion.

Preventive measures

Prevention of sexually transmitted syphilis is based on the following measures:

• Systematic screening for syphilis, especially if you are sexually active.
• Avoid casual sexual relationships with little-known partners.
• Mandatory use of barrier contraceptives, especially during oral sex.

Household syphilis can be prevented by observing the following preventive measures:

• Strict adherence to personal hygiene rules.
• Avoiding physical contact with an infected person.
• When living together with a sick person, there must be strictly individual dishes, personal hygiene items, clothing and bedding.
• Systematic disinfection of bathroom items.

Reference! Preventive therapy is prescribed to family members who have a sick person.

Prevention of congenital syphilis consists of:

• Preliminary examination for syphilis at the preparatory stage for pregnancy.
• Throughout pregnancy, undergo routine examinations for syphilis RPHA.
• If the results are positive, the woman undergoes mandatory treatment.
• Undergoing preventive treatment provided that the woman has previously had syphilis.

Within 2 days after sexual contact with a possibly infected person, you can get emergency prevention of syphilis from a venereologist.

Diagnosis of primary syphilis

Hard chancre should be distinguished from cancer of the palatine tonsil and remember that the cancerous ulcer is located deep and has dense, uneven, corroded edges, and its bottom bleeds easily.
To make a correct diagnosis, in addition to the Wasserman reaction, a biopsy of pharyngeal tissue is necessary. A sore throat-like chancre is not difficult to distinguish from a sore throat by the following symptoms: unilateral lesions, absence of pain and such general phenomena as fever and malaise.

For the secondary period of development of syphilis on the mucous membranes of the pharynx and pharynx

characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of similar manifestations on the skin - roseola and papules. Secondary syphilides of the mucous membranes contain a lot of treponemes (the causative agents of syphilis), and therefore patients who have lesions of the mucous membranes of the pharynx, mouth and pharynx pose a serious danger to others.

The disease can have erythematous, erosive and papular forms. Syphilitic erythema is a continuous spot that has sharp boundaries and a bluish-red color. In some cases, slight swelling is observed. Such erythemas are most often localized on the anterior and posterior palatine arches, tongue, tonsils and soft palate.

If the erythema is located on the anterior palatine arches, then it occurs under the guise of a sore throat. This sore throat is one of the early secondary manifestations of syphilis.

Basics of pathology

Oral syphilis is a type of sexually transmitted sexually transmitted disease. The pathology is caused by a pale spirochete localized on the oral mucosa. The first signs are visualized in this part of the body.

According to the International Classification of Diseases according to etiology, syphilis is classified into:

• Congenital
• Acquired

Important! Syphilis in the mouth can be treated only at the initial stage of pathology development. If left untreated, the infection quickly spreads through the flow of blood and lymph to all organs and tissues.

Diagnosis of secondary syphilis

Secondary syphilitic lesions of the pharynx must be distinguished from diseases such as leukoplakia, aphthous stomatitis, diphtheria, ulcerative membranous tonsillitis, and pharyngeal tuberculosis.

Friends! Timely and correct treatment will ensure you a speedy recovery!

In the tertiary period of development of syphilis of the mucous membranes

The most common and important manifestations are lesions of the oral cavity, pharynx and pharynx.

Tertiary lesions of the tongue can manifest themselves in the form of isolated gummas (soft tumor), which develop in its thickness, or as diffuse infiltration, which covers most of the tongue, and then turns into diffuse sclerosis (pronounced coarsening) of the mucous membrane and muscle tissue.

But most often the location of the tertiary form of syphilides is the soft and hard palate. Most often in this case there is a diffuse form, but in some cases limited gummous tumors are observed. The pathological process begins with virtually no pain and is a diffuse swelling, and then thickening and compaction of the soft palate, which gradually loses its mobility. Infiltrates usually have a bluish-red color. Then the gummas disintegrate and deep ulcers are formed, which have sharply defined edges.

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Tertiary lesions in the pharynx can take the form of tubercular syphilis or gummous lesions, which are mainly localized on the vault of the pharynx and its posterior wall. Such lesions are very rarely detected before ulceration, because they practically do not bother the patient.

After the healing process of gummous-ulcerative lesions, dense scars appear, as well as adhesions between the arches, walls of the pharynx and the soft palate, which often causes atresia (fusion) of the pharynx and disruption of the swallowing process.

More about symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the current stage. So, at first, signs of infection appear only by the appearance of papules on the skin (or mucous membranes, in the case of a photo of syphilis in the throat), in place of which an ulcer later forms. By the end of the first stage, the ulcers disappear on their own and appear with renewed vigor in the second. With the beginning of the second stage, internal organs begin to suffer. At the third stage, total intoxication of the body occurs. The rash on the body becomes massively lumpy.

Diagnosis of tertiary syphilis

Tertiary syphilis of the pharynx must be differentiated from tuberculosis, scleroma and malignant neoplasms of the pharynx. Gummous ulcerations are painless and have sharply defined edges and a bluish-red color. They do not cause the disorders that occur with pharyngeal tuberculosis. The bottom of a syphilitic ulcer is shiny, smooth and shaped like a crater. For a final diagnosis, histological examination is necessary.

Treatment methods

The venereologist prescribes antimicrobial drugs, and always regulates the dosage. After a course of medication, the patient undergoes a blood test. The drug is administered invasively after an equal period of time.

During treatment with antimicrobial drugs, the patient’s blood must be examined step by step. The drug is administered after the same period of time.

Of no small importance is a restorative course of therapy so that the patient is rehabilitated after prolonged use of antibiotics, which destroy not only pathogenic flora, but also beneficial microorganisms. In this situation, lactobacilli and vitamin complexes are prescribed.

During treatment, you should avoid sexual intercourse. Only after repeated tests show the absence of infection in the blood can we talk about a complete cure. If a pathogen is identified, it is imperative to inform your sexual partner about this, and he must also undergo a course of therapy. It happens that in men the symptoms are not expressed, and subsequently he infects his partner.

Video

You can also watch a video where they will explain to you how to cure syphilis on the lips.

Syphilis on the lips is not only an unpleasant aesthetic problem, but also a rather dangerous disease that requires prompt treatment. In order not to confuse syphilis with other unpleasant diseases, you first need to undergo a full diagnosis in the hospital. The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests and, based on them, prescribe adequate and effective treatment. It is important not to delay your visit to a specialist in order to avoid unpleasant consequences in the future.

Pathogen

The causative agent of syphilis is a spiral-shaped bacterium - Treponema pallidum (Fig. 1). When it enters the body, a person will definitely fall ill; the immune system cannot defeat the bacterium on its own. Treponema pallidum lives only in the human body.

Figure 1. Treponema pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis. Source: J Clin Invest. 2001/doi.org

Prevention

It is easier to protect yourself from a serious illness than to treat it. In this case, it is necessary to adhere to the following measures:

• Use contraception. A condom is considered an effective method;
• Avoid indiscriminate sex; it is better to give preference to one sexual partner;
• Everyone in the house should have their own dishes. This way you can not only protect yourself from lip syphilis, but also other viral infections. Try to wash dishes thoroughly rather than rinsing them;
• In a public place, it is better to use disposable tableware;
• Do not give or take cosmetics from strangers. You can get seriously ill after using lipstick. This is especially true for those who like to visit a beauty salon;
• A washcloth and bath towel should not be shared. Everyone should have their own hygiene product.

Syphilis on the lips is an unpleasant disease; it lasts a long time in both women and men. The disease can be prevented by following simple recommendations. Take care of your health!