Syphilis%20-%20primary Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

Definition

Syphilis is a vertically or sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum
- Infection is spread through direct contact with the lesion or through blood transfer, eg blood transfusion, injection drug use
Most infections occur in low-income countries while lower rates of occurrence are seen in middle- and high-income countries
- Incidence has increased in the past decade in western Europe and North America among men who have sex with men (MSM)
A 10-15 year period of resurgence of syphilis is observed and is attributed to either unsuccessful efforts at sustaining infection control or changing risk behaviors and host immunity to infection
A person w/ primary syphilis has a 60% risk of infecting her sex partner & 70-100% risk of passing the infection to the fetus
- Syphilis is sexually infectious during the early, primary and secondary stages of the disease; congenital transmission can happen years after being in the latent stage
- Sexual transmission is rare following 2-3 years of untreated infection and management focuses on development of complications such as neurosyphilis and gummatous and cardiovascular infections
Initial lesions appear at the site of inoculation after an incubation period of 21 days and can be found at any place where direct contact with the infected lesion occurred

Risk Factors

Possible risk factors:
- Sexual contact with a known case of syphilis
- Sex worker
- Homeless or with history of intravenous (IV) drug use
- Diagnosed with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- With multiple sexual partners
- Use of protection barrier during intercourse
- With a sexual partner with any of the above characteristics

Burden of Dengue amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

12 Jul 2022

Dengue fever (DF) is endemic in many tropical countries, including Singapore, and is spread by Aedes mosquitoes. All four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV 1–4) are found in Singapore, with serotype distribution fluctuating from year to year. DENV-1 and DENV-2 were previously the dominant serotypes in outbreaks, but DENV-3 has now replaced DENV-2 as the most common serotype in 2022. Along with a larger proportion of people staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this has resulted in an increase in dengue incidence in Singapore. In the week of 12th to 18th June 2022, 1,258 new dengue cases were reported. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), this number is expected to rise and exceed the highest weekly figure of 1,787 cases recorded in 2020.

Spotlight on multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections: New developments for an old problem

Dr. Hsu Li Yang, Dr. Tan Thuan Tong, Dr. Andrea Kwa, 08 Jan 2021

Antimicrobial resistance has become increasingly dire as the rapid emergence of drug resistance, especially gram-negative pathogens, has outpaced the development of new antibiotics. At a recent virtual symposium, Dr Hsu Li Yang, Vice Dean (Global Health) and Programme Leader (Infectious Diseases), NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, presented epidemiological data on multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in Asia, while Dr Tan Thuan Tong, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), focused on the role of ceftazidime-avibactam in MDR GNB infections. Dr Andrea Kwa, Assistant Director of Research, Department of Pharmacy, SGH, joined the panel in an interactive fireside chat, to discuss challenges, practical considerations, and solutions in MDR gram-negative infections. This Pfizer-sponsored symposium was chaired by Dr Ng Shin Yi, Head and Senior Consultant of Surgical Intensive Care, SGH.

Rapid antigen test: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good

Pearl Toh, 23 Oct 2021

While rapid antigen test is less sensitive than conventional nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) such as RT-PCR* in detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus, “a test does not have to be perfect to be clinically useful,” said Professor Angela Caliendo during a session in IDWeek 2021 — echoing the maxim that perfect should not be the enemy of good in the pandemic era.