Syphilis
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What is it?
Syphilis is the oldest known Sexually Transmitted Infection. It is caused
by an organism which enters the blood stream through the mucous
membranes or broken skin. It is then carried to all body organs and
tissues.
It usually takes 10 days to 3 months for the symptoms to show up. Some
people may not have any noticeable symptoms. People infected with
syphilis can spread it to others during sexual intercourse, even if they
have no signs or symptoms of the infection.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms appear in 3 stages:
- Primary: The first sign is a painless sore (chancre) on the penis,
anus, labia, vagina, cervix, throat or lips. It is easy to miss this
sign as it heals and goes away in 1-5 weeks. Swollen glands can also be
present.
- Secondary: About 6 weeks after the first signs, skin lesions or a rash
can appear all over the body, including the palms of the hands and the
soles of the feet. Sores may also be in the mouth and the genital area.
There can also be fever, swollen glands, sore throat, fatigue, headaches
and patchy hair loss. This rash is easy to confuse with other skin
conditions. These symptoms also go away, even without treatment, but the
infection is still present in the blood, organs, and other tissue. With
no treatment, the rash may recur over the next 1-2 years. This is a very
contagious time.
- Latent: In untreated syphilis, the germs continue to spread to all
parts of the body but there are no outward signs of the disease. A blood
test will show it is still there. From 3-30 years after the primary
infection, serious damage can show up in various body organs such as the
heart, large blood vessels, bones, joints, or central nervous system.
How is syphilis diagnosed?
In early syphilis, if a sore is present, a swab can be done. A blood
test will show the disease about 1 month after the chancre appears.
Blood tests also show whether a person is responding to the treatment.
Once you have had syphilis, blood tests may show this for the rest of
your life.
How is syphilis treated?
Syphilis is best treated in its early stages to prevent serious
complications and the spread of the disease to others. Penicillin
injections are the first treatment choice. For those allergic to
penicillin, certain other antibiotics can be given. Treatment will cure
syphilis but cannot reverse any damage already done to internal organs.
After treatment, blood tests will show that the disease has been cured
and that there are no flare-ups or re-infection. Without treatment,
about 33% of those infected develop serious complications later in life.
Are there complications?
If syphilis is treated early there should be no complications. Without
treatment or with late treatment, serious damage can occur to the heart,
large blood vessels, liver and brain. If not treated, a pregnant woman
can pass syphilis to her unborn child. This can cause serious damage to
the baby. During pregnancy, all women are tested for syphilis.
How is syphilis prevented?
- Never have sexual contact with anyone who has a sore(s) in the genital
area.
- Use condoms/latex barriers every time.
- Limit your number of sexual partners.
- Have all sexual partners treated as soon as possible. Avoid sexual
contact, even with a condom/latex barrier until your doctor says all
blood tests are satisfactory.
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