Dermatology - Primary syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is transferred through contact with the skin and mucous membranes, and can affect several organs in the body. Regional lymphadenopathy typically manifests within a week. The nodes are distinct, solid, elastic, painless, usually seen on one side; they may last for several months. An ulcer or chancre, ranging in size from 1 mm to 2 cm, appears on the mucocutaneous site where the infection was introduced. It starts as a button-like bump and then progresses to a painless erosion until eventually developing into an ulcer with a raised border and a small amount of clear fluid discharge. The surface might exhibit a crust formation. Extragenital chancres can develop at any location where the infection was introduced; sores on the fingers can cause discomfort. Even in the absence of medical intervention, a chancre will fully heal after a period of 4 to 6 weeks. At this point, the infection may either enter a dormant stage or progress into secondary or tertiary syphilis. The diagnosis is established through clinical examination and can be further validated using dark-field microscopy or serological testing. The potential causes for the condition are genital herpes, traumatic ulcer, fixed drug eruption, chancroid, and lymphogranuloma venereum. Administer a single dose of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G at a dosage of 2.4 million units, or alternatively, take oral doxycycline at a dosage of 100 mg twice daily for a duration of 14 days. This treatment is highly effective and serves to prevent the occurrence of secondary or tertiary syphilis.
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