Syphilis on the tongue

Syphilis is quite easy to detect on the tongue. Its first symptom is the formation in the tongue, the so-called chancre. It is usually painless. The disease begins at the site of infection in the form of a small, hard swelling, its size is less than 1 cm.

The chancre develops into a red, usually painless, open sore. It only rarely bleeds. Over time, the chancre becomes white or brownish in color. It is recommended not to touch these wounds, so as not to aggravate the situation. Because a liquid similar in consistency to pus can flow out of them.

Briefly about the disease

Syphilis is a highly contagious disease, primarily through sexual activity. Sometimes the disease can be passed on to another person through prolonged kissing or close contact with the body. The infected person is often unaware of the disease and passes it on to their sexual partner without realizing it.

The duration of the incubation period is 3-4 weeks (may vary for each individual). The latency period may be longer when taking antibiotics.

Pregnant women with syphilis can infect their children with it. This disease, called congenital syphilis, can cause abnormalities or even death for the baby. Be sure that it is almost impossible to catch this disease at home. You can be calm. Using household items will not lead to infection.

A characteristic feature of primary syphilis is the presence of a hard chancre.

If we talk about the secondary stage, then it manifests itself at 9-10 weeks after infection and can last about 3-5 years. It is characterized by changes in the skin, mucous membranes and other organs. 50% of people with untreated syphilis can develop a tertiary form of the disease, even many years after the first infection.

Two or more chancres can develop at the same time, usually in the genital area, but sometimes on the hands, mouth, or other parts of the body surface. Chancres contain millions of bacteria and are highly contagious.

Syphilis is notorious for making it difficult to diagnose in the emergency room. Many go to medical centers with a complaint: "my tongue changes color." Most of them deny any past history of pain or similar symptoms, meaning this is their first time. It should be noted that they deny rashes, weight loss, hair loss or genital lesions.

A test for syphilis, in most cases, shows a positive result. In primary syphilis, the chancre is the characteristic lesion. Although chancres often occur on the external genitalia or anus, extragenital chancres occur in 2% of patients. Usually this formation occurs on the lip or tongue. To get rid of it, long-acting penicillin is used intramuscularly. After this procedure, a month later, any examination will show that the symptoms of syphilis in the patient have disappeared.

There is a broad differential diagnosis for oropharyngeal pigmented macules that includes autoimmune, viral, mycotic causes, as well as hereditary syndromes, cigarette use, and drug-related causes.

Statistics

Syphilis can be present in a variety of forms, making it difficult for doctors to make a diagnosis. This disease should be kept on the differential list as the incidence continues to rise, especially among men who have sex with men.

In 2013, 56,471 new cases of syphilis were reported in Europe. According to numerous studies, between 2012 and 2013, the number of reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis increased by 10.9%, the data was published on an English website that informs the population. Men aged 20-29 had the highest rates of primary and secondary syphilis, followed by women aged 20-24.

The characteristic skin findings are found in all stages of syphilis. Oral manifestations are much less common than on the skin, but can be observed in all stages of syphilis.

Secondary syphilis in the language of the photo above shows how terrible the consequences of this disease can be.

Signs and symptoms

The secondary form is the most contagious of all stages of this disease and is characterized by the systemic spread of the bacterial spirochete Treponema pallidum. Skin rashes and mucosal lesions characterize the secondary stage.

However, spots with a different appearance can occur on various parts of the body, sometimes resembling a rash caused by other diseases. Sometimes the rashes associated with secondary syphilis are so mild that they are not noticed.

The symptoms of syphilis are the same for men and women. They are often soft and difficult to recognize. You won't even realize right away that you're sick.The first symptoms of syphilis usually develop about two or three weeks after infection, although they may start later. This stage of infection is known as "primary syphilis".

The main symptom is a small painless ulcer, which, as we have already found out, is called a chancre. The disease will usually be on the penis, vagina, or around the anus, although sometimes they may appear in the mouth or on the lips, fingers, or buttocks. These symptoms usually resolve within 2-8 weeks. But if the infection is not treated, it slowly moves to the second stage.

Further symptoms may develop several weeks after the first symptoms appear. They belong to the secondary form of syphilis.

If you don't treat yourself, you can live with this disease for a long time without experiencing any symptoms. Therefore, you should often check with a doctor for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.

Eventually, it can spread to parts of the body, such as the brain or nerve endings, and cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems. One of them is the tertiary form of syphilis.

With this form of the disease, you may have:

• Meningitis;
• Dementia;
• Loss of coordination;
• Numbness;
• Vision problems or blindness;< /li>
• Heart problems.

Syphilis can be cured at this stage, but sometimes it is impossible to repair the damage that has already been done to the health. With syphilis, these symptoms usually go away within a few weeks. It may take several months before they disappear.

You may still be infected even if you don't have symptoms. In other words, you will have a latent form that can last for decades and lead to serious problems if left untreated.

Disease manifestation

The way this disease manifests itself will directly depend on how much the disease has progressed. This can even be determined visually. If you have started the disease and do not start treating syphilis, then the sores on the tongue will increase, affecting other organs. After that, it will be possible to say with confidence that the disease has moved to another stage.

It will be difficult for you to talk, because in any case, the chancre on the tongue will be affected. Don't let this happen, but take action in time. In our country, this disease is not given much attention, so watch your health without relying on anyone.