Teratogens-+Syphilis

Alyssa Corey, Tricia Hart, Julie Ketcham, Luke Hanson = = =**Syphilis:**= A sexually transmitted infection caused by [|spirochete bacterium]. Generally transmitted through sexual contact, but can be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth. The signs and symptoms vary depending on the stage. There are 3 stages, primary, secondary, latent/late. In the United States, reported cases of syphilis was over 36,000 in 2006. The reported ages in these cases were from 26 to 39 years old. Reported cases of congenital syphilis in newborns raised from 2005 to 2006.

=Signs and Symptoms:= =Cause:= syphilis is passed through person to person contact throught the syphilis sores. Many of the sores appear on the penis, vagina, anus, or in the retcum. A way of contracting the bacteria is through oral ,vaginal, or anal sex. This is why this teratogen is considered an STI.
 * **Primary Stage**: One or more painless ulcers (chancers), these appear at the place where the sexual bacteria entered the body. Generally visible after 21 days after sexual contact.Chancers are difficult to notice, but usually are on or around the vulva or on the cervix in woman. On the penis is men, or around the anus and mouth in both sexes. The chancers are usually firm, small, round and painless. It will last between 3 to 6 weeks, and heals without treatment. However, if there isn't adequate treatment administrated the infection can spread into the secondary stage.
 * **Secondary Stage:** This stage starts with the development of rashes on one or more areas of the body. The rashes that are associated with secondary syphilis can possibly appear as the chancer is healing or several weeks after the chancer has healed. This rash appears to rough, reddish, or brownish spots on both palms and the soles of the feet. But the rash can appear in other locations around the body. The signs and symptoms of syphilis can be resolved with or without treatment. Without treatment, there will be the chance of the infection progressing to the latent stage and possibly the late stage of syphilis.
 * **Latent/Late Stage:** This stage is classified as the hidden stage. This begins when the primary and secondary symptoms dissappear. Without treatment, a person that is infected will continue to have the signs and symptoms are hidden. The Latent stage can last for years. The later stages of syphilis may cause damage to the internal organs, which includes: the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, kidney, etc. The signs and symptoms of the late stage of syphilis include lose of coordination in muscles, paralysis, dementia, blindness, and numbness.

=Diagnosis:= A blood test is a way to diagnosis this infection. Because this infection if not caught if one is pregnant, there is risk that the infection can infect and possibly kill the developing fetus. Another way for diagnosis is examination of the chancers of syphilis using a special microscope that is called a dark-field microscope. If the bacteria is present on the chancers, the microscope will pick up on it and the examiner can see it. = = =Treatment:= Treatment for syphilis in the earlier stages can be easily administrated to the patient. It can be done with a single intramuscular injection of penicillin, which is an antibiotic which will cure syphilis for up to a year. Additional injections will need to be administrator seen in patients who are in the later stages of this disease. The treatment will clear the syphilis bacterium but not fix the damage that has occurred over time. Patients who are admistored the drug to treat syphilis should obstain from sexual activity until the sores are completely healed. **ADD MORE!**

=**How can Syphilis affects a pregnant woman and her baby**?= The syphilis bacterium can infect the baby while a woman is pregnant. The survival rate of the baby depends on how long a pregnant woman has been infected. This can increase the risk of the baby being born as a stillborn or giving birth to a baby who has a short lifespan. An infected baby can live without any signs or symptoms of this disease. If the baby is not treated immediately, the baby can develop serious side effects. If no treatment is offered, the baby's development can be delayed, have seizures, or die.



=Sources:=

Introduction to the Spirochetes: [] T. D. Brock, et al. 1994. Biology of Microorganisms, 7th ed. Prentice Hall, NJ, USA.

Syphilis: Symptoms, pictures and treatment. AVERT: Averting HIV and Aids. []. March 20th, 2012.

"Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States, 2007". Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 13 January 2009. March 28. 2012