Syphilis is a very contagious disease that is spread through sexual contact. Oral and anal sex can spread syphilis as well. The infected partner might not know they have the disease, and they can therefore pass it on to the people that they have sex with. Syphilis can cause a whole host of serious long-term problems if it is not treated. Before the invention of penicillin, syphilis could be deadly for those who had contracted it.
There are three stages of this disease. In the early stage, also called primary syphilis, infected people will have one or more sores that are called chancres. These are small and painless ulcers that are usually on the genitals or the anus or rectum. They can also be present in or around the mouth within 10 to 90 days of exposure. These sores heal without a scar in about six weeks.
Secondary syphilis begins about six months after exposure and can last for as long as three months. This stage of the condition includes a “copper penny” rash on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. You can also have rashes on other parts of the body and lesions or sores in the groyne and inside the mouth. You might lose hair, have swollen lymph nodes, or have a fever. You could also lose weight.
For those who have not been treated for syphilis, the condition can enter the third stage, also called late-stage syphilis. This period can last anywhere from a year to twenty years. During this stage, symptoms will worsen and can impact the cardiovascular system or the entirety of the skin. The nervous system can also be impacted.
Any of these stages can have latent periods between them where the person with syphilis might have thought that the condition has gone away. These periods can be weeks, months, or years in duration.
Syphilis is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. This is transmitted through direct contact with a syphilis sore that is present on someone else’s body. This is almost always a result of sexual activity, but it can also take place when you have a cut on the skin or you might contract syphilis through your mucus membranes.
Risk factors for contracting syphilis are:
Diagnosis of syphilis is made through two kinds of tests. The most common test is a blood test, which is done to look for the presence of antibodies that your body creates to fight the infection. The bacteria which cause syphilis can be present for years, so your immune system will reflect their presence.
The other test that can be done is a cerebrospinal fluid test which is done by collecting a sample of your spinal fluid through a lumbar puncture. This sample will show the presence of the bacteria in your body.
Syphilis can be cured in the early stages with treatment via penicillin. This is a common antibiotic that is highly effective against the bacteria that cause syphilis. If you were not diagnosed until you entered secondary or late-stage syphilis, you might need additional doses of antibiotics. In cases where secondary conditions are present, like nervous system damage, you might need supportive care long-term to manage additional symptoms.
Prevention of syphilis involves practising safe sex and reducing the number of people that you have sex with. You will also need to avoid recreational drug use. Abstaining from sex altogether can also protect you from contracting syphilis. Be sure that you do not have sex with anyone with open syphilis sores.