Page 344 - Critical Maternity & Newborn Health Nursing

appear within a few hours to 20 days after the exposure and rupture spontaneously

to form very painful, open, ulcerated lesions. Inflammation and pain secondary to

the presence of herpes lesions can cause difficult urination and urinary retention.

Enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes may be present. Flu like symptoms and

genital puritus or tingling may also be noticed.

TTT: Self-care suggestions include cleansing with providence iodine (betadine)

solution to prevent secondary infection. The nurse can discuss with the infected

woman keeping the genital area clean and dry, wearing loose clothing, taking sitz

baths, and wearing cotton underwear. If herpes is present in the genital tract of a

woman during the childbirth, it can have a devastating, even fatal effect on the

newborn.

Syphilis: is a chronic infection caused by the spirochete treponema pallidum which

is found in all lesions primary, secondary and tertiary. The disease is congenital or
acquired.

Syphilis is divided into early and late stages. During the early stage, painless ulcer

appears at the site of which the organism entered the body. Symptoms include light

fever, loss of weight, and malaise. Secondary symptoms appear from 6 weeks to

six months including skin eruptions called condylomas may appear in the vulva.

The treatment for pregnant and non-pregnant women, 2.4 million units of

benzathine penicillin g intramuscularly in a single dose.

Clinical Picture

Primary stage

The primary lesion or chancre appears in the mucosa of the lower genital tract

(cervix, vagina, clitoris, labium major, labium minor, fourchette) and urethra. The

chancre may appear in other areas as the lips, mouth (oral sex) or anorectal region.

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