Syphilis—Encephalitis

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. Usually the cause is a viral infection, but bacteria can also cause it. It can be mild or severe. Most cases are mild. You may have flu-like symptoms. With a mild case, you may just need rest, plenty of fluids, and a pain reliever.

Severe cases need immediate treatment. Symptoms of severe cases include

• Severe headache
• Sudden fever
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Seizures

In babies, additional symptoms may include constant crying, poor feeding, body stiffness, and bulging in the soft spots of the skull.

Severe cases may require a stay in the hospital. Treatments include oral and intravenous (IV) medicines to reduce inflammation and treat infection. Patients with breathing difficulties may need artificial respiration. Some people may need physical, speech, and occupational therapy once the illness is under control.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

• Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection (Medical Encyclopedia)
• CSF analysis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Encephalitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (Medical Encyclopedia)

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. It infects the genital area, lips, mouth, or anus of both men and women. You usually get syphilis from sexual contact with someone who has it. It can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy.

The early stage of syphilis usually causes a single, small, painless sore. Sometimes it causes swelling in nearby lymph nodes. If you do not treat it, syphilis usually causes a non-itchy skin rash, often on your hands and feet. Many people do not notice symptoms for years. Symptoms can go away and come back.

The sores caused by syphilis make it easier to get or give someone HIV during sex. If you are pregnant, syphilis can cause birth defects, or you could lose your baby. In rare cases, syphilis causes serious health problems and even death.

Syphilis is easy to cure with antibiotics if you catch it early. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading syphilis.

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

• Condom Fact Sheet in Brief (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Congenital syphilis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• CSF-VDRL test (Medical Encyclopedia)
• FTA-ABS test (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Neurosyphilis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• RPR test (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Syphilis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Syphilis – primary (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Syphilis and MSM (Men Who Have Sex with Men) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• VDRL test (Medical Encyclopedia)