The rash of syphilis: types, localization, change at different stages

Rash in syphilis is one of the main symptoms that occurs in almost all patients. The difficulty is that it can take a variety of forms and types, which significantly complicates the diagnosis.

The French called syphilis a monkey all diseases. He has no typical clinical picture, and symptoms can masquerade as a variety of condition.

Therefore, for any mass lesions on the skin dermatologists recommend to be tested for syphilis, in order not to miss the beginning of this disease.

Doctors there are four forms of syphilis, each of which has its characteristic manifestations:

  • Incubation period. Can last from 20 days to 30, sometimes more or less, although in some cases, may be adjusted up to 190 days. At this time, the disease has no symptoms.
  • Primary syphilis. At the place of infection formed the primary ulcer is a chancre. Small, rounded with a smooth bottom color of raw meat. Typically, a single chancre, does not cause discomfort, and 30-40 days disappear even without treatment. In most cases accompanied by inflammation located near the lymph nodes
  • Secondary syphilis. Through the blood and lymph system, the pathogen spreads throughout the body. At this stage, there are numerous rashes on the body and start the changes of the internal organs. Rash in syphilis is recurrent in nature. It spontaneously disappears and reappears.
  • Tertiary syphilis. Today, this form is extremely rare. Changes in the body becomes irreversible, and form large painless swelling – syphilis gum.

We should also mention congenital syphilis – a condition with which children are born infected mothers. Most often this pregnancy ends in a miscarriage, but in some cases, the light appears a viable baby that is infected with syphilis, with a large number of pathologies.

Signs of primary syphilis

Sifilide primary – chancre – appears in place of the entrance gate of infection. Mandatory condition for the penetration of bacteria – the presence of lesions on the skin, at least microscopic.

In men, the typical localization of the glans, the foreskin, at least – the trunk. In women, the chancre is most often found on the mucous membrane of the vulva, at least – in the vagina. During oral sexual contact ulcer may be in your mouth. Other localization are less frequent, but not eliminated.

After infection takes average 3-4 weeks until the formation of the chancre. Typical sign:

  • Size – approximately 10-20 mm in diameter, but sometimes more and less.
  • Form – roundish.
  • The edges are crisp, tight.
  • There is a solid Foundation.
  • The surface is smooth, shiny, red or brown-red color.
  • Does not cause discomfort, itching, pain, inflammation missing.
  • On the surface can be pus, rarely pus.

Some time after appearance of primary chancre, develops regional lymphadenitis – inflammation located near the lymph nodes. They increase in size, become painful.

In addition to the classic forms of primary syphilides may be numerous atypical: diffuse, herpetic, syphilitic panaris, painful ulcers and so on.

Chancre takes place even without treatment within 3-4 weeks, leaving no scar or any other trace.

This is often considered a sign of recovery. In fact, it says only about the reaction of the immune system, to suppress the primary symptoms. But this does not prevent pale treponeme to spread throughout the body via the lymphatic and circulatory system.

After a period of latent development of the stage of secondary syphilis.

Manifestations of secondary syphilis

At this stage the pathogens spread throughout the body, and the rash of syphilis can appear anywhere on the face, scalp, body, legs, arms, feet and palms. They can be extremely varied, but most often are as follows:

  • Roseolas. Circular spots of pink, brownish or reddish color with fuzzy edges do not protrude above the skin surface, do not tend to merge, do not itch and not scratched. When pressure is pale. Often located on the torso, but can appear and not other parts of the body.
  • Papules. A small protruding above the surface of the skin nodules. The appearance they are flat and smooth, after a few days start to peel off. As roseola, do not cause discomfort. Popping not with the first wave of lesions and relapses.
  • Pustules. Small vesicles filled with liquid pus, rarely blood or pus. While tearing may turn into oozing sores. Unlike the roseola, tend to merge. Popping in people with weakened immune systems, for example, against drug addiction or alcoholism.
Cutaneous manifestations of syphilisincredibly diverse. They can be similar, at least – appear a few shapes at a time.

In addition to these basic types of lesions may be more rare manifestations:

  • Hair loss. Patches of baldness on the hairy part of the head and also the eyebrows, eyelashes, men – on the face: beard and mustache. Baldness can be of different types – diffuse or focal. And if diffuse syphilitic alopecia can be confused with symptoms of many other diseases, alopecia is one of the characteristic symptoms, especially if loss of the affected eyelashes and eyebrows.
  • The diadem and necklace of Venus. Infrequent but characteristic feature of this disease is the appearance of chains of lesions under the hairline or on the neck.
  • Leucoderma. When syphilis is possible as the appearance of age spots and the disappearance of the natural coloring on the skin. Usually appear rounded depigmented patches of various localization, tend to merge. Can occur on the face, but often on the body or limbs.
  • Changes in the structure of nails. It is possible to change their shapes, the appearance of the growths, the nails can become brittle, thickened, and easily crumbled.
  • Wide condylomas. Multiple, closely located to each other warts form large plaques. Most are in the genital area and the armpits, interdigital folds and so on.

These rashes if the syphilis is not a complete list. In some cases, the clinical picture differs considerably from the typical, which greatly complicates the work of dermatologists. In fact, any rash on the face or body can be a symptom of secondary syphilis, and require Troubleshooting.

Secondary syphilis is characterized by a fluctuating course. The eruption appears after a few months fade, disappear on their own, even without treatment. After some time they appear again. This undulating course without appropriate treatment can last for years.

Signs of tertiary syphilis

The previous stage can last up to 10 years, sometimes longer, depending on the condition of the body, the immune system and many other factors. In modern conditions, secondary syphilis is highly curable and simply diagnosed, so the tertiary is extremely rare.

At this stage changes are all the organs and tissues. Typical manifestation of gum. It is a large circular formation, dense to the touch. Can appear under the skin and inside the body, shifting and deforming the internal organs.

Can also be ulcers, tubercles, granuloma and education of another type.

In contrast to the secondary stage, tertiary syphilis is poorly contagious. In this period, the patient almost does not emit pathogens into the environment, become infected from contact with the Gumm or other forms almost impossible.

The rash of syphilis, along with its most characteristic symptom, and the most diverse. How it looks depends on individual peculiarities and condition of the body. Therefore, to diagnose yourself based only on external signs it is impossible, requires a full diagnosis under the supervision of a specialist venereologist.