Some venereal diseases, especially in chronic form, cause serious complications and serious disruption of the work of internal systems and organs. Syphilis refers to a group of dangerous pathologies that lead to damage to the kidneys, heart and liver. For this reason, doctors are advised to familiarize themselves in advance with the methods of its prevention.
Syphilis is the causative agent of infection
This disease is provoked by a gram-negative anaerobic microorganism from the spirochete species called pale treponema. This bacterium has developed resistance to many types of antibiotics and is able to protect themselves from them with the help of a membrane shell. It is able to dissolve collagen and attach to healthy cells, so pale treponema causes:
- violation of vascular nutrition of tissues;
- ulcerative defects;
- necrosis;
- reduction of protein synthesis;
- erosion;
- lesions of internal organs.
How do they get syphilis?
The main way of infection is any sexual relations with a sick partner without barrier contraception , including oral and anal sex. If a woman becomes pregnant or has already had a baby during infection, the fetus is likely to have congenital syphilis - the risk group includes babies whose mothers have not been treated effectively. Another variant of infection involves direct contact with the patient's blood:
- transfusion;
- use of a single syringe for injection;
- performance of medical manipulations (professional transmission route).
Is it possible to catch syphilis in a domestic way?
Pale treponema survives outside the human body for several days and remains resistant to low temperatures. The answer to the question, whether it is possible to catch a syphilis a household way, positive, but it is the extremely rare cases of infection. The bacterium possesses vitality on objects with which the mucous membranes of a sick person or its open ulcers have come into contact:
- dishes;
- Toothbrush;
- towels;
- cutlery;
- linens.
If healthy people live or work closely with an infected person, they need to undergo a medical examination. Even in the absence of infection, specific prevention of syphilis and regular monitoring are subsequently carried out. The patient himself must carefully monitor his own hygiene, use only personal household items from the list above.
Can I get syphilis through a kiss?
Pathogens described pathology and live in the oral cavity, especially if its mucous membranes are characteristic chancres (ulcerous erosion). On questions, whether it is possible to catch syphilis through saliva, and whether pale treponemas are transmitted at kisses, venereologists respond positively. It is important to exclude such close contacts with the sick person before recovery.
Can I get syphilis with a condom?
Barrier contraceptives are considered to be an effective method of preventing infection, but they do not guarantee 100% protection. Finding out if you can get syphilis when using a condom, you need to remember the following facts:
- improper storage and use of the product leads to a violation of its integrity;
- pale treponema penetrate the body also with saliva, through wounds on the skin or mucous membranes;
- low-quality condoms tend to break;
- lubricants on a fat basis destroy the material from which the contraceptive is made.
In view of the above arguments, the prevention of sexual syphilis should not be limited to the use of barrier protective equipment. Their incorrect application, industrial marriage and other circumstances can lead to infection of the disease in question. Often, venereal patients do not even suspect infection with pale treponema.
Syphilis - methods of prevention
The maximum effective way to prevent infection with this pathology is to follow the general recommendations of a specialist. Measures to prevent syphilis:
- Avoid occasional intimate relationships.
- Always use high-quality condoms for all types of sex (oral, genital, anal).
- Regularly visit a doctor for routine examinations.
- Systematically give a smear to a laboratory test.
- Do not kiss unfamiliar people.
- Use only personal hygiene accessories.
- When visiting hotels and similar establishments, carefully check the cleaning of the rooms, the cleanliness of bath accessories and surfaces in the bathroom.
- If in the family or at work there is a patient with syphilis, do not take his dishes, clothes and household items.
Emergency prophylaxis of syphilis
When there was an unprotected accidental sexual intercourse, it is important to immediately take measures to prevent infection with pale treponema. Prevention of infection with syphilis in such cases suggests:
- washing with a soap solution;
- urination;
- careful treatment of the genitals, their deep rinsing with antiseptic solutions (Gibitane, Miramistin, Cidipol and others).
Such prevention of syphilis does not guarantee quality protection, therefore, in the near future after an intimate relationship it is important to make an appointment with a venereologist and describe the situation to him. The doctor will send the necessary laboratory tests and prescribe a course of drug-preventive therapy. This treatment helps to prevent 100% of infection with pale treponema and spread of infection.
Specific prevention of syphilis
Doctors have not yet developed effective drugs that can protect the body from the pathology in question for a long time, like antiviral vaccines. In advance, it is impossible to develop an immune response to syphilis - prevention of a specific type of disease is absent. For this reason, it is important to diligently observe all the general recommendations of the venereologists listed above.
Medical prophylaxis of syphilis
With suspicions of infection with pale treponema, the specialist prepares a course of preventive treatment. Individually selected antibiotic for the prevention of syphilis, supporting and antifungal agents. An important condition for the complete elimination of bacteria is the constant maintenance of a high concentration of antimicrobial drug in the blood. Otherwise pale treponema quickly develops resistance to the medication.
Tablets for the prevention of syphilis are selected from the penicillin group , pathogens are sensitive to this type of antibiotic. Primarily the following tools are assigned:
- procaine-benzylpenicillin;
- sodium salt of benzylpenicillin;
- Novocaine salt of penicillin.
Preventing syphilis during pregnancy
If pale treponema is found in a future mother , the risk of fetal damage, genetic abnormalities, stillbirth and other deplorable consequences is high. To prevent complications, prophylaxis of congenital syphilis should be carried out up to 4-5 months of gestation. At this time, the pathogenic bacterium crosses the placental barrier and penetrates the baby's body.
What shots do for the prevention of syphilis and take pills in this situation, only the gynecologist and the venereologist decide. Antibiotics, too, are selected from the penicillin series, but their concentration and duration of the therapeutic course should match the term of pregnancy, condition and indicators of fetal development. An exceptionally qualified specialist can make an optimal treatment regimen in order not to harm the child and effectively eliminate colonies of pale treponem.
Prevention after treatment of syphilis
Even confirmed recovery does not indicate a complete disappearance of the pathogen from the body. There is a latent form of pathology, in which the analyzes are negative, but the bacteria are present in the blood and mucous membranes, they are just not too active yet. Prevention of syphilis to prevent recurrence:
- Visit a venereologist for examinations every 1, 3, 6, 12 months (depending on the form and severity of the disease). Dispensary follow-up lasts 2-5 years.
- Regularly take tests for serological control, preferably 1 time in 3 months. The decision to stop laboratory tests will be made by the doctor with persistent negative reactions.
- Independently prevent infection. The patient should undergo the standard general prevention of syphilis described above.