Question

During an assessment, a nurse suspects that a client is in the primary stage of syphilis. Which findings support the nurse's conclusion? Select all that apply.

1. Ulcers on the hands and lips
2. Patchy alopecia on the scalp
3. Headache and a sore throat
4. Firm and enlarged lymph nodes
5. Presence of gummas in the mouth

Answer 1

The nurse's conclusion that the client is in the primary stage of syphilis is supported by the findings of ulcers on the hands and lips and firm and enlarged lymph nodes. correct answer is 1) Ulcers on the hands and lips.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's conclusion that the client is in the primary stage of syphilis is supported by the following findings:

1. Ulcers on the hands and lips: Syphilis can cause the development of ulcers called hard chancres. These ulcers are usually firm, round, and painless, and they appear at the site where the syphilis bacteria entered the body.
2. Firm and enlarged lymph nodes: Localized lymph node swelling may occur in the primary stage of syphilis as the body's immune response to the infection.

The other findings listed, such as patchy alopecia on the scalp, headache and a sore throat, and presence of gummas in the mouth, are more characteristic of the later stages of syphilis (secondary and tertiary).

The findings that support the nurse's conclusion that the client is in the primary stage of syphilis are ulcers on the hands and potentially on the lips (if they are linked to sexual contact), firm and enlarged lymph nodes. Primary syphilis is marked by the appearance of a chancre, which is usually firm, round, and painless, and it represents the site where the syphilis bacteria entered the body. This chancre often goes unnoticed as it can occur in hidden areas and is typically painless. However, associated swollen lymph nodes might be a more recognizable symptom.

Patchy alopecia on the scalp, headache and a sore throat are not typically associated with the primary stage of syphilis, but may occur in the secondary or tertiary stages. The presence of gammas in the mouth is a sign of tertiary syphilis, which occurs much later in the disease's progression. Therefore, they are not indicative of primary syphilis.