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Syphilitic cold
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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Syphilitic runny nose of newborns occurs when the fetus infects syphilis through the placenta from a sick mother. Occurs 2-3 weeks after birth and can be taken for other types of cold of newborns.
Pathological changes are characterized by the appearance on the septum of the nose and other formations of the internal nose of infiltrates and ulcers, which lead to the destruction of cartilage and even bone tissue followed by deformation of the nose observed with gummy syphilis in adults. Microscopically revealed morphological changes, characteristic for the II-III stage of syphilis.
Symptoms: at the beginning of the disease - bilateral obstruction of the nasal passages with subsequent abundant serous secretions, which then become muco-purulent, dirty-gray, greenish, hemorrhagic with putrefactive odor. Purulent discharge dries up and forms abundant greenish-yellow or dirty-brown crusts on the eve of the nose, extending to the adjacent skin of the upper lip. Under the crusts formed bleeding cracks, representing a pathognomonic symptom for congenital syphilis of the nose. Subsequently, they form characteristic whitish scars (stria luctica), radially divergent from the nostrils, which last for a lifetime. Syphilitic rhinitis of the newborn can be accompanied by manifestations of infection at a distance (pemphigus, skin syphilis, severe damage to internal organs).
The diagnosis is based on the described signs, as well as on the serological analysis of the blood of the mother and newborn. Differential diagnosis is very difficult and should be performed with all the rhinitis of newborns described above, taking into account the timing of the onset of the disease, the mother's history, possible long-term complications and bacteriological and serological studies.
Complications of syphilitic cold. Syphilitic cold of the newborn is often accompanied by adenoiditis, followed by which can occur purulent otitis. Sometimes there is cervical lymphadenitis or even adenoflegona neck, caused by a banal infection. There are also scar-destructive deformities of the nose pyramid and internal nasal structures.
The prognosis is determined by timely diagnosis and the effectiveness of the treatment.
Treatment of syphilitic cold. Locally apply all the methods described above in other forms of the common cold of newborns. The general treatment is prescribed by a venereologist, sometimes bismuth preparations are also used.