What Is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a form of a bacterial infection which an individual usually
contracts by sexual activity. In the beginning stages of the disease, the
affected individual may experience just a sore in the genital areas or mouth.
Syphilis is contagious and spreads when the skin or the mucous membrane comes
in contact with the infected sores. Once an individual gets the bacteria, it
may stay in the body without showing any activity for many years before
becoming active. Syphilis is perfectly treatable if diagnosed and treated early
enough with just penicillin, but if this disease is left untreated it may
significantly damage the heart, brain or other vital organs of the body. In the
United States, studies show that Syphilis has been on the rise in males,
especially homosexuals, compared to females where it has shown a decline.
What Are The Causes Of Syphilis?
Syphilis is caused due to a bacterium called Treponema Pallidum, which
can be transmitted from an individual to other usually by sexual contact. This
bacterium can infiltrate the body system through small cuts or abrasions as
well as through mucous membranes. This disease is highly contagious during the
primary and secondary stages. In rare cases, Syphilis has known to spread
through activities like kissing. It is important to note that this disease does
not spread by using the same toilet, clothing, utensils etc. Once Syphilis is
completely cured it does not tend to reoccur.
What Are The Symptoms Of Syphilis?
The development of Syphilis takes place in various stages with symptoms
being different for different stages. In some cases, an individual infected
with Syphilis may not even observe any symptoms for a prolonged period of time.
Primary Syphilis Symptoms: In this stage, the very first sign of an
infection is a small sore in the genital area. This sore is located at the
place where the bacteria infiltrated the body. Usually, there is only one sore
seen but in some cases there may be several of them. This sore is observed
generally a few weeks after contacting the disease. This sore usually heals on
its own within a month.
Secondary Syphilis Symptoms: Once the initial sore heals up then there
may be development of a rash which may be observed in the trunk initially but
then gradually spreads throughout the body. Some individuals may also
experience muscle pain, fever, lymph node swelling. These above symptoms may go
on their own only to return back again and this cycle may continue as long as
for about a year.
Latent syphilis
The third stage of syphilis is the latent, or hidden, stage. The primary
and secondary symptoms disappear, and there won’t be any noticeable symptoms at
this stage. However, the bacteria remain in the body. This stage could last for
years before progressing to tertiary syphilis.
Tertiary syphilis
The last stage of infection is tertiary syphilis. About 14 to 40 percent
of people with syphilis enter this stage. Tertiary syphilis can occur years or
decades after the initial infection. Tertiary syphilis can be life-threatening.
Some other potential outcomes of tertiary syphilis include:
• Blindness
• Loss of hearing
• Mental health conditions
• Memory loss
• Destruction of soft tissue
and bone
• Neurological disorders,
such as stroke or meningitis
• Heart disease
• Neuro syphilis, which is
an infection of the brain or spinal cord
How is syphilis diagnosed?
If you think you might have syphilis, go to your doctor as soon as
possible. If you prefer, you can also use a local health clinic for testing.
Your doctor or healthcare professional will take a blood sample to run
tests, and also conduct a thorough physical examination. If a sore is present,
they may take a sample from the sore to determine if the syphilis bacteria are
present.
If your doctor or healthcare professional suspects that you’re having
nervous system problems because of tertiary syphilis (and you have positive
screening blood tests), you may need a spinal tap. During this procedure,
spinal fluid is collected so that your doctor can test for syphilis bacteria.
Syphilis and pregnancy
If you’re pregnant, your doctor should screen you for syphilis and other
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as part of your regular prenatal care
during the first trimester. This is because STIs can increase the risk of
pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth.
Doctors also do an STI screening that includes syphilis because it can
be transmitted to the fetus. This is known as congenital syphilis. Untreated
congenital syphilis can cause severe damage in a newborn and be life
threatening.
A pregnant person will transmit syphilis to their baby. This is why
treatment for syphilis is important during pregnancy to protect your health as
well as the health of your baby.
Babies born with congenital syphilis may develop:
• Developmental delays
• Seizures
• Rashes
• Fever
• Swollen liver or spleen
• Anemia
• jaundice
• Infectious sores
Untreated congenital syphilis can lead to late-stage syphilis. This can
cause damage to a baby’s:
• bones
• teeth
• eyes
• ears
• brain
Penicillin is the main treatment for syphilis during pregnancy. If you
have a penicillin allergy, your doctor can still administer penicillin over the
course of several hours. This allows your body to receive the drug without
having an allergic reaction.
What Are Treatments For Syphilis?
As stated, Syphilis is perfectly treatable if diagnosed and treated in
its early stages. Penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment of Syphilis.
In case if an individual is allergic to penicillin, then another antibiotic
might be given for treating Syphilis. Usually, a single dose of penicillin is
enough for stopping the disease from progressing but if an individual has
Syphilis for more than a year then additional doses may be required.
In cases of females who are pregnant and diagnosed with Syphilis then
penicillin is the only treatment suggested and in case if the female is
allergic to it then she may have to undergo desensitization in order for them
to be able to take the medication. Also, the newborn child should also be
treated for Syphilis with antibiotics in case the mother has been diagnosed
with the disease.
Testing for syphilis at home
You can test for syphilis with an at-home testing kit. Any result,
either positive or negative, should be followed up with a doctor’s appointment.
If you have an increased risk of contracting syphilis for any reason,
testing regularly at home may be beneficial.
Syphilis testing is also readily accessible through routine clinic
appointments or at most city health departments. These tests are often
available at little to no cost.
Treating and curing syphilis
Primary and secondary syphilis are easy to treat with a penicillin
injection. penicillin is one of the most
widely used antibiotics and is usually effective in treating syphilis. People
who are allergic to penicillin will likely be treated with a different
antibiotic, such as:
• Doxycycline
• ceftriaxone
If you have neurosyphilis, you’ll get daily doses of penicillin
intravenously. This will often require a brief hospital stay. The damage caused
by late syphilis can’t be reversed. The bacteria can be killed, but treatment
will most likely focus on easing pain and discomfort.
During treatment, make sure to avoid sexual contact until all sores on
your body are healed and your doctor tells you it’s safe to resume sex. If
you’re sexually active, your partner should be treated as well. Don’t resume
sexual activity until you and your partner have completed treatment.
How to prevent syphilis
The best way to prevent syphilis is to practice safe sex. Use condoms
during any type of sexual contact. In addition, it may be helpful to:
• Use a dental dam (a square
piece of latex) or Condoms during oral sex.
• Avoid sharing sex toys.
• Get screened for STIs and
talk with your partners about their results.
Syphilis can also be transmitted through shared needles. Avoid sharing
needles if using injected drugs.
Complications associated with syphilis
Untreated syphilis can have devastating effects, including:
• gumma also known as gummy
tumor, is more common in the late stages of syphilis and is highly destructive.
In the early stage, it is a deep, subcutaneous nodule that gradually grows and
adheres to the skin. The central site gradually softens, ulcerates, and
releases viscous, gum-like pus; hence, it is named , which contain masses of
dead, swollen, fiber-like tissue. They’re most often found in the liver. They
can also occur in the brain, heart, skin, bones, eyes, and testis.
• Blindness
• hearing loss
• Brain damage
• Paralysis
• Meningitis
• Heart valve damage
• Aneurysm
• aortitis (inflammatory
aortic disease)
Syphilis is a form of a bacterial infection which an individual usually
contracts by sexual activity. In the beginning stages of the disease, the
affected individual may experience just a sore in the genital areas or mouth.
Syphilis is contagious and spreads when the skin or the mucous membrane comes
in contact with the infected sores. Once an individual gets the bacteria, it
may stay in the body without showing any activity for many years before
becoming active. Syphilis is perfectly treatable if diagnosed and treated early
enough with just penicillin, but if this disease is left untreated it may
significantly damage the heart, brain or other vital organs of the body. In the
United States, studies show that Syphilis has been on the rise in males,
especially homosexuals, compared to females where it has shown a decline.
What Are The Causes Of Syphilis?
Syphilis is caused due to a bacterium called Treponema Pallidum, which
can be transmitted from an individual to other usually by sexual contact. This
bacterium can infiltrate the body system through small cuts or abrasions as
well as through mucous membranes. This disease is highly contagious during the
primary and secondary stages. In rare cases, Syphilis has known to spread
through activities like kissing. It is important to note that this disease does
not spread by using the same toilet, clothing, utensils etc. Once Syphilis is
completely cured it does not tend to reoccur.
What Are The Symptoms Of Syphilis?
The development of Syphilis takes place in various stages with symptoms
being different for different stages. In some cases, an individual infected
with Syphilis may not even observe any symptoms for a prolonged period of time.
Primary Syphilis Symptoms: In this stage, the very first sign of an
infection is a small sore in the genital area. This sore is located at the
place where the bacteria infiltrated the body. Usually, there is only one sore
seen but in some cases there may be several of them. This sore is observed
generally a few weeks after contacting the disease. This sore usually heals on
its own within a month.
Secondary Syphilis Symptoms: Once the initial sore heals up then there
may be development of a rash which may be observed in the trunk initially but
then gradually spreads throughout the body. Some individuals may also
experience muscle pain, fever, lymph node swelling. These above symptoms may go
on their own only to return back again and this cycle may continue as long as
for about a year.
Latent syphilis
The third stage of syphilis is the latent, or hidden, stage. The primary
and secondary symptoms disappear, and there won’t be any noticeable symptoms at
this stage. However, the bacteria remain in the body. This stage could last for
years before progressing to tertiary syphilis.
Tertiary syphilis
The last stage of infection is tertiary syphilis. About 14 to 40 percent
of people with syphilis enter this stage. Tertiary syphilis can occur years or
decades after the initial infection. Tertiary syphilis can be life-threatening.
Some other potential outcomes of tertiary syphilis include:
• Blindness
• Loss of hearing
• Mental health conditions
• Memory loss
• Destruction of soft tissue
and bone
• Neurological disorders,
such as stroke or meningitis
• Heart disease
• Neuro syphilis, which is
an infection of the brain or spinal cord
How is syphilis diagnosed?
If you think you might have syphilis, go to your doctor as soon as
possible. If you prefer, you can also use a local health clinic for testing.
Your doctor or healthcare professional will take a blood sample to run
tests, and also conduct a thorough physical examination. If a sore is present,
they may take a sample from the sore to determine if the syphilis bacteria are
present.
If your doctor or healthcare professional suspects that you’re having
nervous system problems because of tertiary syphilis (and you have positive
screening blood tests), you may need a spinal tap. During this procedure,
spinal fluid is collected so that your doctor can test for syphilis bacteria.
Syphilis and pregnancy
If you’re pregnant, your doctor should screen you for syphilis and other
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as part of your regular prenatal care
during the first trimester. This is because STIs can increase the risk of
pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth.
Doctors also do an STI screening that includes syphilis because it can
be transmitted to the fetus. This is known as congenital syphilis. Untreated
congenital syphilis can cause severe damage in a newborn and be life
threatening.
A pregnant person will transmit syphilis to their baby. This is why
treatment for syphilis is important during pregnancy to protect your health as
well as the health of your baby.
Babies born with congenital syphilis may develop:
• Developmental delays
• Seizures
• Rashes
• Fever
• Swollen liver or spleen
• Anemia
• jaundice
• Infectious sores
Untreated congenital syphilis can lead to late-stage syphilis. This can
cause damage to a baby’s:
• bones
• teeth
• eyes
• ears
• brain
Penicillin is the main treatment for syphilis during pregnancy. If you
have a penicillin allergy, your doctor can still administer penicillin over the
course of several hours. This allows your body to receive the drug without
having an allergic reaction.
What Are Treatments For Syphilis?
As stated, Syphilis is perfectly treatable if diagnosed and treated in
its early stages. Penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment of Syphilis.
In case if an individual is allergic to penicillin, then another antibiotic
might be given for treating Syphilis. Usually, a single dose of penicillin is
enough for stopping the disease from progressing but if an individual has
Syphilis for more than a year then additional doses may be required.
In cases of females who are pregnant and diagnosed with Syphilis then
penicillin is the only treatment suggested and in case if the female is
allergic to it then she may have to undergo desensitization in order for them
to be able to take the medication. Also, the newborn child should also be
treated for Syphilis with antibiotics in case the mother has been diagnosed
with the disease.
Testing for syphilis at home
You can test for syphilis with an at-home testing kit. Any result,
either positive or negative, should be followed up with a doctor’s appointment.
If you have an increased risk of contracting syphilis for any reason,
testing regularly at home may be beneficial.
Syphilis testing is also readily accessible through routine clinic
appointments or at most city health departments. These tests are often
available at little to no cost.
Treating and curing syphilis
Primary and secondary syphilis are easy to treat with a penicillin
injection. penicillin is one of the most
widely used antibiotics and is usually effective in treating syphilis. People
who are allergic to penicillin will likely be treated with a different
antibiotic, such as:
• Doxycycline
• ceftriaxone
If you have neurosyphilis, you’ll get daily doses of penicillin
intravenously. This will often require a brief hospital stay. The damage caused
by late syphilis can’t be reversed. The bacteria can be killed, but treatment
will most likely focus on easing pain and discomfort.
During treatment, make sure to avoid sexual contact until all sores on
your body are healed and your doctor tells you it’s safe to resume sex. If
you’re sexually active, your partner should be treated as well. Don’t resume
sexual activity until you and your partner have completed treatment.
How to prevent syphilis
The best way to prevent syphilis is to practice safe sex. Use condoms
during any type of sexual contact. In addition, it may be helpful to:
• Use a dental dam (a square
piece of latex) or Condoms during oral sex.
• Avoid sharing sex toys.
• Get screened for STIs and
talk with your partners about their results.
Syphilis can also be transmitted through shared needles. Avoid sharing
needles if using injected drugs.
Complications associated with syphilis
Untreated syphilis can have devastating effects, including:
• gumma also known as gummy
tumor, is more common in the late stages of syphilis and is highly destructive.
In the early stage, it is a deep, subcutaneous nodule that gradually grows and
adheres to the skin. The central site gradually softens, ulcerates, and
releases viscous, gum-like pus; hence, it is named , which contain masses of
dead, swollen, fiber-like tissue. They’re most often found in the liver. They
can also occur in the brain, heart, skin, bones, eyes, and testis.
• Blindness
• hearing loss
• Brain damage
• Paralysis
• Meningitis
• Heart valve damage
• Aneurysm
• aortitis (inflammatory
aortic disease)
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