neurosyphilis…

Medical experts recommend this detailed explanation.

[ Find Organization | Index Page ]

central nervous system, neurosyphilis, slowly progressive, destructive infection, the brain, spinal cord, occurs in untreated syphilis many years, primary infection, neurosyphilis occurs in 15 to 20% of all late, tertiary syphilis infections, 10 to 20 years, primary infection, progressive, life-threatening complication, 4 different forms of neurosyphilis, asymptomatic, meningovascular, tabes dorsalis, general paresis, asymptomatic neurosyphilis precedes symptomatic syphilis, present in 15% of those, latent, hidden, syphilis, in this case, abnormalities present, in the cerebrospinal fluid, no symptoms, in meningovascular neurosyphilis, cranial nerve palsies, pupil abnormalities among a wide variety of symptoms, cause damage to blood vessels resulting in stroke, in tabes dorsalis, progressive degeneration, the spinal cord occurs causing an inability to walk, in general paresis, paralysis, tremors, seizures, mental decline occur, a result of damage to brain cells, gummas, inflammatory lesions, occur anywhere, in the brain, spinal cord, cause a wide variety of neurologic deficits, syphilitic aseptic meningitis occurs, a chronic infection, involve headaches, cognitive changes, cranial nerve abnormalities, headache, stiff neck, irritability, poor concentration, mental confusion, depression, visual disturbances, abnormal reflexes, abnormal gait, walk, incontinence, dementia, weakness, numbness of lower extremities, muscle function/feeling loss, muscle contractions, muscle atrophy, no symptoms, asymptomatic form, tests to detect syphilis include detection of antibodies in blood, non-treponemal tests, vdrl, rpr, not specific, screening tests, positive the diagnosis of syphilis is confirmed using treponemal tests, fta-abs, mhatp, in neurosyphilis, important to test, vdrl, in the spinal fluid, tests to evaluate the nervous system, examination of cranial nerves, lumbar puncture, a csf fluid analysis, cranial ct scan, mri scan, the brain, brainstem, spinal cord, cerebral angiogram, treatment of syphilis is determined by the length of time the individual has been infected, primary, secondary, latent syphilis of less than one year duration is treated, benzathine penicillin, 2.4 million units injected into a muscle, im, a single dose, doxycycline 100 mg, milligrams, by mouth twice per day, 15 days, tetracycline 500 mg by mouth four times per day, 15 days, erythromycin 500 mg by mouth four times per day, 2 weeks, ceftriaxone 250 mg im daily, 10 days, treatment of syphilis of greater than one year duration, benzathine penicillin 2.4 million units im weekly, 3 weeks, doxycycline 100 mg by mouth twice per day, 30 days, tetracycline 500 mg by mouth twice per day, 30 days, neurosyphilis, aqueous penicillin g 12 to 24 million units injected into a vein, iv, daily, 10 days followed by benzathine penicillin 2.4 million units im once a week, 3 weeks, procaine penicillin 2.4 million units im daily, oral probenecid 500 mg four times per day--both, 10 days, followed by benzathine penicillin 2.4 million units once a week, 3 weeks, syphilis, pregnancy, penicillin, the only real drug of choice, tetracycline, not be used, toxicity, fetus, erythromycin, fail, prevent congenital syphilis, in the fetus, penicillin-allergic individuals, desensitized, penicillin, several hours following treatment of early stages of syphilis individuals, undergo a febrile reaction, jarish-herxheimer reaction, symptoms of this reaction, fever, chills, headache, nausea, general feeling of ill, malaise, generalized joint aches, arthralgia, generalized muscle aches, myalgia, disappear, follow-up blood tests must be done at 3, 24 months to ensure the infection has been eliminated, must be abstinence from sexual conduct, 2 follow-up tests have indicated that the infection has been cured, syphilis is extremely contagious, in the primary, secondary stages, outcome depends upon the type, extent of disability, treatment is begun, complications, progression, of symptoms, neurologic symptoms develop, person who has had syphilis, neurosyphilis, prevented by the timely diagnosis, treatment of primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, good follow-up is necessary to prove a cure, prevent neurosyphilis from developing following incomplete treatment, either by inadequate medication, non-compliance, the individual taking the medication.