Syphilis

Jessica Lyons
Period D
STD Project
4/22/13
Patient's Name: Jacob Trench
Patient's Age: 27
Patient's Sex: Male
Presenting Problem: ed! "ir#! painless open sores on penis $chancre%! and s&ollen 'lands in the
'roin
History: Sy#pto#s ha(e been present "or abo)t three &ee*s+ ,o pre(io)s treat#ents+ -o#ose.)al
orientation
Family History: ,o "a#ily history o" disease
Exam Results: Physical e.a#: /are")l e.a#ination o" the s*in and #o)th to loo* "or any
abnor#alities or rashes+ ,ote open chancres on penis+ 0enital e.a#: Loo*in' "or dischar'e "ro# the
penis! chec* testicles "or s&ellin' and tenderness! )se s#all scope to loo* at the &alls o" rect)# "or
dischar'e and in"la##ation+ ,ote s&ollen ly#ph nodes in 'roin+
Laboratory Studies: Per"or# a blood test! t)rns o)t to be positi(e "or antibodies+ 1.a#ine "l)id
dischar'e reco(ered "ro# open chancre )nder #icroscope! notes Syphilis bacteria in dischar'e+
Diagnosis: Syphilis $Pri#ary sta'e%! a se.)ally trans#itted in"ection $ST2%
Course of reatment: 3eca)se the in"ection &as ca)'ht in the pri#ary sta'e! a sin'le shot o"
penicillin into the b)ttoc* &ill be s)""icient $patient is not aller'ic to penicillin%+ 2" the in"ection had
been present "or o(er a year! se(eral doses o" penicillin o(er a 34&ee* period &o)ld ha(e been
necessary+ 2" the in"ection has 'one )ntreated "or years and pro'ressed into tertiary sta'e! there co)ld be
serio)s da#a'e to (ario)s or'ans! ca)sin' paralysis! blindness! dea"ness! heart "ail)re! and possibly
death+
Prognosis: Sy#pto#s al&ays clear )p a"ter treat#ent+ So#eti#es the "irst treat#ent doesn5t c)re
syphilis! so &e &ill cond)ct repeat syphilis blood tests to #a*e s)re the treat#ent &or*ed+ The patient
&ill ret)rn in 3 #onths! 6 #onths! and a year a"ter treat#ent+ 7e &ill sched)le another (isit "or s&abs
and blood tests to be per"or#ed to chec* "or other ST2s li*e -28! chla#ydia! and 'onorrhea+ 3eca)se
syphilis is ca)'ht by ha(in' se. &ith so#eone &ho has been in"ected &ith syphilis "or less than a year!
the patient &ill be as*ed to list all se. partners since the in"ection be'an! so that they can be e.a#ined
and treated i" necessary+ Patient shares he has had a steady partner "or 9 #onths+ 7e &ill brin' hi# in
to be e.a#ined+ 2 e.plain that chancres are painless and not al&ays easy to see! so his partner #ay ha(e
had the disease and not ha(e *no&n it+ Syphilis is hi'hly conta'io)s in the "irst sta'e! so 2 &o)ld
reco##end a(oidin' se.)al acti(ity &ith ne& partners )ntil the sores heal+ :"ter they heal! 2 &o)ld
s)''est a(oidin' )nprotected se.+ 2 &ill also &arn the patient that those &ith syphilis are three to "i(e
ti#es #ore li*ely to catch -28! beca)se the 'enital sores can bleed and allo& easy entry o" -28 in
blood d)rin' se.)al acti(ity+
Referen!es:
;ord! <atrina+ =Tr)sted #edical in"or#ation and s)pport+=Patient+co+)*+ >1 J)ne 2>11+ 2> :pr+ 2>13
?http://&&&+patient+co+)*/health/Syphilis+ht#@+
=Syphilis 4 Sy#pto#s! Tests! Treat#ent and Medications "or Syphilis+=7ebMD+ 2A Sept+ 2>11+ 2> :pr+
2>13 ?http://&&&+&eb#d+co#/se.)al4conditions/tc/syphilis4topic4o(er(ie&@+
=7hat is SyphilisB=,e&s Medical+ 2> :pr+ 2>13 ?http://&&&+ne&s4#edical+net/health/7hat4is4
Syphilis+asp.@+