Syphilis is an infection caused by the bacterium treponema pallidum. It can occur more than once in a lifetime.
What is syphilis?
Syphilis is a serious bacterial disease that spreads through genital, anal, or oral sexual contact. The initial symptom is a painless lesion at the infection site, followed weeks later by rashes affecting the entire body.
When to consult for syphilis?
If you have had risky, unprotected sexual contact, you should consult your healthcare professional for screening tests.
A person who has had unprotected sex should also consult a healthcare professional who will assess the need for screening. A person with syphilis can thus avoid transmitting it to others and prevent complications.
Signs and symptoms
Syphilis progresses through three distinct stages, each with its own characteristics:
-
Primary Stage
A painless sore appears at the bacterial entry point within 3 months.
- Genitals
- Anus
- Mouth or throat
The lesion self-resolves in 3-8 weeks but person remains contagious.
Blood tests may show negative results despite infection.
-
Secondary Stage
Occurs 4 weeks to 6 months after the initial sore.
-
Flu-like symptoms:
- Fever
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
-
Rashes:
- On palms
- On soles
- Or elsewhere on body
Symptoms fade in 3-12 weeks without treatment.
Disease enters latency but infected person stays contagious.
-
Flu-like symptoms:
-
Tertiary Stage
Develops 5-30 years after untreated infection.
- Heart damage
- Nervous system damage
- Bone damage
- Skin damage
Causes damage to vital organs.
Transmission
Transmission occurs through oral, vaginal, and anal sex, genital contact between partners, direct contact with sores or rashes.
Sharing sex toys.
- Oral sex (contact of the mouth with the penis, vulva, vagina or anus);
- Vaginal intercourse (penetration of the penis into the vagina);
- Anal sex (penetration of the penis into the anus);
- Contact between partners' genitals;
- Direct skin or mucous membrane contact with chancres or rashes from an infected person;
- Sharing sex toys.
Transmission happens without penetration, orgasm, or ejaculation required.
Blood-borne transmission through shared drug equipment (uncommon)
Pregnant women can transmit to babies during pregnancy or delivery
Window or incubation period (time interval before the disease is detectable during screening)
- 10 days to 12 weeks
Prevention
Condom use during all sexual contact provides main protection.
Latex barriers for oral sex.
Sex toys should remain unshared or use fresh condoms.
Possible complications
If left untreated, syphilis can last for years. Even in a person who has no symptoms, it can cause significant damage:
- • Heart damage
- • Brain damage
- • Bone damage
- • Liver damage
Pregnant women risk premature birth or stillbirth
Infected newborns experience:
- • Anemia
- • Organ abnormalities
- • Developmental delays
Syphilis increases HIV acquisition risk
Syphilis treatment
Medication cures primary and secondary stage infections completely. Tertiary stage damage may be permanent.
Treatment duration varies by disease stage. Medications are available free for infected individuals and sexual partners through prescription.
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