How to check for tertiary syphilis? Syphilis is a chronic sexually transmitted disease, mainly spread through sexual intercourse, which can cause damage to multiple organs throughout the body. Syphilis can be divided into three stages based on severity. If a woman's syphilis progresses to the tertiary stage, it may be transmitted to the next generation through the placenta, leading to congenital syphilis in newborns, which is extremely harmful. So, what tests should be done to confirm that syphilis has progressed to the tertiary stage?
For tertiary syphilis, a comprehensive physical examination is generally required, including the skin, mucous membranes, bones, mouth, external genitalia, anus, and superficial lymph nodes. For patients with a long disease course, cardiovascular and nervous system examinations should also be performed. Other specific tests are as follows.
Methods for checking tertiary syphilis:
1. Treponema pallidum examination.
2. Dark-field microscopy: At the site of skin lesions, scrape tissue exudate or lymph node puncture fluid with a glass slide to observe active Treponema pallidum.
3. Immunofluorescence staining: Green Treponema pallidum can be seen under a fluorescence microscope.
4. Syphilis serological tests.
5. Based on the different antigens used, syphilis serological tests are divided into the following two categories:
(A) Non-treponemal antigen serological tests, using cardiolipin as the antigen to measure anti-cardiolipin antibodies in the serum, also known as reagin.
(1) Rapid plasma reagin test: An improvement of the VDRL antigen, with sensitivity and specificity similar to VDRL, and the advantage that results can be read by the naked eye;
(2) Unheated serum reagin slide test: Also an improvement of the VDRL antigen, with sensitivity and specificity similar to VDRL.
(B) Treponemal antigen serological tests
(1) Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test: This is a more sensitive and specific treponemal test;
(2) Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test for tertiary syphilis: High sensitivity and specificity, simple to perform, but less sensitive than the FTA-ABS test for primary syphilis.
Do you understand how to check for tertiary syphilis? If you notice any discomfort, it is important to go to the hospital for a detailed examination. Once diagnosed, timely treatment for syphilis is essential.
