What is neurosyphilis? Symptoms, forms, treatment, consequences

By syphilis is meant a disease of the venereal nature, which disrupts the work of some systems of internal organs. In the absence of competent treatment after a short period of time, neurosyphilis may develop, characterized by the penetration of infection into the nervous system. This is a very dangerous pathology for human health, threatening complete disability or death.

What is neurosyphilis?

By neurosyphilis is meant the infectious disease of the human CNS. The development of pathology is due to the penetration into the body of the causative agent of syphilis. Infection can involve all parts of the nervous system in the pathological process, starting with the brain and ending with the sense organs. Clinically, the disease manifests itself in a number of neurological disorders: dizziness, muscle weakness, paralysis, convulsions, dementia.

For the first time about syphilis began to speak in the Middle Ages. At that time, the alchemists did not yet know what neurosyphilis was. From the disease suffered the participants of the Crusades. During the centenary war, syphilis was also called the French disease, since the British "brought" it from the mainland. A few decades ago, syphilis was considered a sentence for the infected. Thanks to the rapid development of science, this ailment can be cured today in a few weeks. However, neglected forms often cause death. Especially relevant is the high mortality rate for neurosyphilis.

The disease can manifest itself in any period of development of syphilitic infection. Diagnosis is based on the results of serological research methods and clinical manifestations. For treatment, narrow-spectrum antibiotics are usually used. Today the disease of neurosyphilis is much less common than in the last century. This is due to the improvement of the quality of diagnostic activities, preventive examinations of the population, early therapy.

The main causes of infection

The causative agent of neurosyphilis is the bacterium pale treponema. Infection occurs directly from the sick person. As a rule, this happens with unprotected intercourse. The pathogenic microorganism penetrates the human body through damage to the mucous membranes or skin. Then the infection spreads along with the bloodstream.

The body reacts to a foreign bacterium by producing antibodies. With a decrease in the blood-brain barrier, pale treponema is introduced into the nervous system. Thus, neurosyphilis gradually develops.

The causes of this pathology can also be nonspecific. Development of the disease is facilitated by untimely treatment of early forms of the disease, emotional distress, decreased immunity, craniocerebral trauma, mental fatigue.

The main ways of infection:

1. Sexual . This is the most common variant of transmission of infection. The pathogen penetrates through the mucous membranes and microdamages on the skin. The type of sexual contact usually does not play a special role. Using barrier means of contraception (condom) reduces the risk of infection, but it does not reduce it to zero.
2. Blood transfusion (with blood transfusion, dental manipulation).
3. Household . To get infected by household means requires very close contact with a sick person. Do not rule out the transfer through towels, common household items, the use of a razor or brush.
4. Transplacental (transfer from the mother directly to the fetus).
5. Professional . First of all, it concerns medical workers who have constant contact with biological fluids (blood, sperm, saliva). Infection is possible with obstetric care, surgical interventions, autopsy.

Any contact with a person infected with neurosyphilis always carries a threat.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of neurosyphilis can be pronounced or worn out when the disease is at an early stage of development. Among the general symptoms characteristic of the disease, doctors refer to periodic headaches, rapid fatigue, numbness of the limbs.

Specialists distinguish between early, late and congenital variant of the disease. The first develops within several years from the moment of infection. Otherwise it is called mesenchymal, since the vessels and membranes of the brain are primarily involved in the pathological process. The late form of pathology is manifested approximately five years after the penetration of pale treponema into the body. It is accompanied by the defeat of nerve cells and fibers. Congenital neurosyphilis develops as a result of transplacental transmission of infection from mother to fetus and manifests itself during the first months of the child's life.

Early neurosyphilis

This form of the disease usually develops within 2-5 years after the infection enters the body. This condition is accompanied by damage to the membranes and vessels of the brain. Its main manifestations include syphilitic meningitis, meningovascular syphilis and latent neurosyphilis. Symptoms and characteristics of each form will be discussed in more detail below.

1. Asymptomatic (latent) neurosyphilis can be called a "random" finding. In this state, characteristic symptoms are not observed, and the diagnosis can be established only by changing the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid.
2. Syphilitic meningitis is most often diagnosed in young people. Among the primary symptoms are nausea and vomiting, severe headaches. Body temperature rises extremely rarely. Perhaps involvement in the pathological process of the cranial nerves, which is manifested by impaired vision and the development of neurosensory hearing loss.
3. Meningovascular syphilis is characterized by impaired circulation in the brain. Clinically, the pathology is manifested by a violation of sensitivity, increased reflexes, decreased attention and memory impairment. The absence of timely treatment can lead to ischemic stroke. Usually it is preceded by severe headaches, worsening of sleep, epileptic seizures are possible .

Late neurosyphilis

This pathology is also divided into several forms:

• Progressive paralysis.
• The dorsal is dry.
• Gummous neurosyphilis.
• Atrophy of the optic nerve.
• Meningovascular neurosyphilis (symptoms are similar to the early form of this disease).

When it comes to progressive paralysis, it means chronic meningoencephalitis. Usually it develops in 5-15 years from the moment of infection with syphilis. The main cause of this form of the disease is the penetration of pale treponem into the brain cells with subsequent destruction. Initially, patients exhibited changes in higher nervous activity (impairment of attention and memory, irritability). As the disease progresses, mental disorders (depressive state, delusions and hallucinations) join. Among the symptoms of a neurological nature can be noted tremor tongue, dysarthria and a change in handwriting. The disease is rapidly developing and within a few months leads to a fatal outcome.

When the posterior roots and cords of the spinal cord are affected, doctors speak of the dorsal air. Clinically, the pathology manifests itself in the form of prolapse of achilles reflexes, instability in the Romberg position. As a result, the person's gait changes. The appearance of atrophy of the optic nerve is not ruled out. Another characteristic of the disease are trophic ulcers.

Atrophy of the optic nerve in some cases acts as an independent form of such a disease as neurosyphilis. The consequences of the disease significantly reduce the quality of human life. The initial pathological process affects only one eye, but after a while it acquires a two-sided character. Reduces visual acuity. In the absence of timely treatment, complete blindness develops.

Gummous neurosyphilis. Gummas are rounded formations, which are formed as a result of inflammation caused by treponema. They affect the brain and spinal cord, squeezing nerves. Clinically, the pathology is manifested by paralysis of the extremities and pelvic disorders.

Congenital neurosyphilis

This form of pathology is diagnosed extremely rarely. During pregnancy, the pregnant woman in labor often undergoes an examination to identify infections. If intrauterine infection has occurred, it is very easy to recognize it. The clinical picture is characterized by the same symptoms as in adult patients, with the exception of dorsal dryness.

The congenital form of the disease has its own distinctive symptoms. This hydrocephalus and the so-called Getschinson triad: deafness, keratitis and deformation of the upper incisors. Timely treatment can stop the infectious process, but neurological symptoms persist throughout life.

Diagnosis of neurosyphilis

What is neurosyphilis, we have already told. How to confirm this disease? The formulation of the final diagnosis is possible taking into account three main criteria: a characteristic clinical picture, the results of tests for syphilis, the detection of changes in the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid. Adequate assessment of the patient's condition is only possible after a neurological examination.

As for laboratory research, they are carried out in a complex manner. In some cases, repeated testing is required. The most informative methods of laboratory diagnosis include RPR-analysis, RIBT, RIF, as well as identifying the causative agent of infection in the contents of affected skin.

In the absence of pronounced symptoms, a lumbar puncture is performed. With neurosyphilis in cerebrospinal fluid , an increased level of protein and pathogen is found - pale treponemia.

MRI and CT of the spinal cord are prescribed for all patients with suspected neurosyphilis. Diagnosis by means of special apparatuses makes it possible to reveal hydrocephalus and atrophy of the medulla.

How to defeat neurosyphilis?

Treatment of early forms of the disease is based on aggressive antibiotic therapy. To do this, use drugs penicillin and cephalosporin series. As a rule, therapy is complex and involves the use of several drugs at the same time. The usual scheme: "Penicillin", "Probenecid", "Ceftriaxone". All medications are administered intravenously. Penicillin injections are also made into the spinal canal. The course of treatment usually lasts two weeks. After this, the patient undergoes a second examination, according to the results of which one can judge whether the neurosyphilis was successful. Treatment is prolonged if a pale treponem is found in the cerebrospinal fluid.

In the first day of drug therapy may increase neurological symptoms (headache, temperature rise, tachycardia). In such cases, the treatment is supplemented with anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid drugs.

To combat the late form of neurosyphilis use drugs with arsenic and bismuth, which are highly toxic.

Forecast and consequences

Early forms of neurosyphilis respond well to therapy, complete recovery is possible. In some cases, the so-called residual phenomena in the form of dysarthria and paresis remain, which can lead to disability.

Late forms of pathology do not succumb to drug therapy. Symptoms of a neurological nature, as a rule, remain with the patient for life.

Progressive paralysis a few years ago led to a fatal outcome. Today, the use of antibiotics of the penicillin line allows to mitigate the manifestation of symptoms and slow down neurosyphilis.

Photos of patients with this diagnosis and after the course of treatment make it possible to understand what threat pathology carries for the organism. That's why everyone should know how to prevent this ailment.

Preventive measures

To prevent infection, doctors are advised to abandon uncontrolled sex. Special attention should be paid to personal hygiene. People infected with pale treponema, must necessarily undergo preventive examinations from a neurologist.

What is neurosyphilis? This is a dangerous disease characterized by CNS damage. In the absence of timely treatment, there is a high probability of developing life-threatening complications that directly affect the quality of life, and sometimes lead to death. Therefore, one should not neglect the prophylaxis of the disease, and after infection immediately seek help from a doctor.