How Does Syphilis Differ
Syphilis has been a major global public health problem worldwide and in all healthcare organizations for the past decades. Despite numerous prevention and intervention efforts, the overall rates of the case of syphilis in the CDC have not decreased significantly over time. In fact, according to the article, Syphilis: using modern approaches to understand an old disease, “the CDC reported that 25% of primary and secondary syphilis cases occurred in person coinfected with HIV, and the incidence rate of syphilis in HIV-infected persons was 77 times greater than the general population” (Ho & Lukehart 2011). Also, according to the article, Nevada is experiencing the highest rate of syphilis in the Western U.S. following an outbreak in Las Vegas,
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At this stage, the bacteria is latent, or asleep, and persist in many tissues without causing any signs or symptoms. According to the article, Syphilis & Stages of Syphilis, “the bacteria remain inactive inn the lymph nodes and the spleen. Latency can last 3-30 years and may or may not progress to the final, or tertiary, syphilis. About 30 percent of infected people persist in a latent state” (Swierzewski 2015). Within the first year of infection, after going through stage 1 and stage 2, the bacteria goes to sleep and remain dormant, or noninfectious, for up to 30 years. However, it does not mean that the person is considered free from the infection because it is still present in the body and can still be passed on to another person. For instance, a pregnant woman, at this stage, is likely to pass the infection on to the unborn because the disease is present in the blood. “T. pallidum may seed the bloodstream intermittently during the latent stage and thus infect a developing fetus during pregnancy” (Ho & Lukehart 2011). Babies who are born to a mother tested positive for syphilis are likely to get the disease also. In this case scenario, the baby either have a short life span or may live a full life style with the precaution of taking proper medically prescribed antibiotics on the daily basis. While growing up, the person still remains a carrier of the disease and must restrict from skin-to-skin contact to prevent the spread of
At this stage, the bacteria is latent, or asleep, and persist in many tissues without causing any signs or symptoms. According to the article, Syphilis & Stages of Syphilis, “the bacteria remain inactive inn the lymph nodes and the spleen. Latency can last 3-30 years and may or may not progress to the final, or tertiary, syphilis. About 30 percent of infected people persist in a latent state” (Swierzewski 2015). Within the first year of infection, after going through stage 1 and stage 2, the bacteria goes to sleep and remain dormant, or noninfectious, for up to 30 years. However, it does not mean that the person is considered free from the infection because it is still present in the body and can still be passed on to another person. For instance, a pregnant woman, at this stage, is likely to pass the infection on to the unborn because the disease is present in the blood. “T. pallidum may seed the bloodstream intermittently during the latent stage and thus infect a developing fetus during pregnancy” (Ho & Lukehart 2011). Babies who are born to a mother tested positive for syphilis are likely to get the disease also. In this case scenario, the baby either have a short life span or may live a full life style with the precaution of taking proper medically prescribed antibiotics on the daily basis. While growing up, the person still remains a carrier of the disease and must restrict from skin-to-skin contact to prevent the spread of