Question

Shelly, a 27-year-old “call girl” has had rapidly deteriorating health recently. She is experiencing malaise, persistent mild fever and hair loss. She recently recovered from what she thought was some sort of allergic reaction. She experienced a generalized skin rash of varying appearance. At the same time, she had painless lesions in her mouth and throat. While this rash lasted approximately three weeks, Shelly did not seek medical attention, since it caused her no discomfort.

1. Describe Congenital Syphilis.

2.

		neurological abnormalities
		stillbirth
		impaired mental development
		malformations of hands and feet
		cleft palate

3.

Tertiary syphilis may result in both cardiovascular and neurological impairment.

True

False

4

Though once used to treat syphillis, benzathine penicillin is no longer effective due to the development of resistance by Treponema pallidum.

True

False

5.

Microscopic examination for the spirochetes is still the usual method of screening for primary syphilis.

True

False

Answer 1

1. Congenital syphilis is the infection of the fetus caused by Treponema pallidum. The bacteria passes from mother to fetus.

2. Congenital syphilis leads to stillbirth or death of the baby after birth.

3. Tertiary syphilis results in cardiovascular, neurological and muscular impairments.

4. Benzathine penicillin has not developed resistance against T. pallidum.

5. Common screening method of primary syphilis is direct fluorescent antibody test.