Page 345 - Critical Maternity & Newborn Health Nursing

Incubation period is 10-90 days. The chancre appears as a solitary, non-tender

indurated ulcer. In 10% of case more than one chancre is present. The chancre

usually health after 1-6 weeks. The inguinal glands enlarge. When the lesion is on

the vulva or lower vagina. They are hard, not tender and do not suppurate.

Fig.,( 44 ) Primary Syphilis chancre adopted from

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Secondary stage

If untreated, the manifestations of secondary syphilis appear in 6 weeks to 6

months after healing of the chancre. These result from entry of spirochetes into the

bloodstream and include pyrexia, condylomas, generalized lymphadenopathy and

occasional loss of scalp hair. The condylomas appear as flat wart-like growths in

the vulva and around the anus. Sometimes the secondary lesions appear before

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