What is syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually
transmitted disease caused by bacteria called Treponema pallidum.
Syphilis is not a common infection in the U.K., the majority of the
cases of syphilis in the U.K. were contracted in countries where syphilis
is still widespread.
Syphilis develops in three stages:-
- Stage 1 - known as the primary stage.
- Stage 2 - known as the secondary stage.
- Stage 3 - known as the latent stage.
How is syphilis passed on and how can I avoid
it?
Syphilis is passed on by close sexual contact, including
oral sex. Syphilis can also be passed on from a mother to her unborn
child.
Syphilis can be prevented by the correct and consistent
use of condoms.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of syphilis are different with every
stage, the primary and secondary stages are very infectious.
Primary stage symptoms may take up to 3 months to develop after first becoming infected,
they include: -
- Painless red sores, at the place where the bacteria
entered the body, usually the vagina, vulva, anus, penis or mouth. These sores
are called 'chancre' and disappear after 2 to 6 weeks even if they
are left untreated.
Secondary stage symptoms
develop several weeks or months after the sores appear, if the infection
remains untreated.
- A non-itchy rash on the palms of the hands and
soles of the feet but it may cover the entire body.
- Flu-like
symptoms - fever, sore
throat, aching muscles and loss of appetite.
- Patchy hair loss.
The signs of secondary syphilis may come and go
over the next 1-2 years. Treatment at any time during these first two
stages will cure the infection. It is important to visit your doctor
or a G.U.M.
clinic if you have any of these symptoms to avoid the progression
of syphilis to the latent stage.
Latent stage symptoms develop if syphilis
has been left untreated over a period of years. It is at this stage
that syphilis can spread through the entire body, affecting the heart,
muscles, brain and nervous system. This stage is very rare as syphilis
has usually been spotted and treated in the earlier stages. At this
stage syphilis is no longer contagious.
This stage can last for years or even decades and can result in mental
illness, blindness, impotence, heart
disease loss of balance and even death.
How is syphilis diagnosed?
The doctor will normally begin by giving you a physical
examination. If sores are present, the doctor will take a sample of
the fluid and have it analysed under a microscope. A blood test will
usually be taken to confirm the diagnosis.
How is syphilis treated?
In the first 2 stages, syphilis is easily treated
with antibiotic tablets and/or penicillin injections. You may also be prescribed a lotion
for skin sores. Ensure your partner also gets examined and treated if
necessary to avoid re-infection. After treatment you should have regular
blood tests for 2 years to ensure that syphilis has gone. Once syphilis
has been successfully treated it will not come back unless you become
re-infected. If treatment is given during
the latent stage, syphilis can be cured. However, if the infection has
damaged the heart, brain or nervous system before treatment was started,
the damage may be irreversible.
What long-term affect will syphilis have?
If a pregnant woman has untreated syphilis she can
pass the infection to her baby in the womb. This can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth,
or your child becoming infected with syphilis. Children born with syphilis
may have symptoms at birth but most develop later. These symptoms include
skin sores, rashes, fever, anaemia and various deformities.
As infected infants become older they may develop the symptoms of latent
stage syphilis, including damage to their bones and brain.
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