Neurosyphilis occurs whensyphilisspreads to thecentral nervous system.
What Are the Symptoms of Neurosyphilis?
Symptoms of neurosyphilis are highly variable.
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Some people have multiple major symptoms, while others may have one relatively mild symptom that largely goes unrecognized.
Neurosyphilis symptoms vary by the part of the brain affected as well as thestage of infection.
Referred to as ocular syphilis andotosyphilisrespectively, these infections can lead to vision and hearing loss if left untreated.
What Is Neurosyphilis resulting from?
Syphilis is due to a sexually transmitted bacteria calledTreponema pallidum.
It can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy.
Scientists do not understand why some people with syphilis develop neurosyphilis and others do not.
With that said, neurosyphilis is common in people whose syphilis has goneundiagnosedanduntreatedfor a long time.
Most cases of syphilis will not become neurosyphilis, particularly with prompt screening and treatment.
However, partial or incomplete treatment of syphilis may significantly increase your risk.
How Is Neurosyphilis Diagnosed?
Syphilis is normallydiagnosedwith a blood test.
Because of this, treatment will almost invariably take place in a hospital.
Probenecid prevents the excretion of penicillin and prolongs the activity of the antibiotic drug in the body.
Mattei PL, Beachkofsky TM, Gilson RT, Wisco OJ.Syphilis: a reemerging infection.Am Fam Physician.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Neurosyphilis, ocular syphilis, and otosyphilis.
