Syphilis Disease refers to sexually transmitted diseases that can be fatal (STI). It is transferred through sexual contact with an infected person. Syphilis, if left untreated, can cause death or significant health problems, such as blindness, mental issues, and affects the brain, heart, eyes, and nerve system. Syphilis can pass from an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy or the newborn at birth.
Symptoms and Causes of Syphilis Disease
The symptoms of syphilis change based on the stage of the disease. Syphilis advances through four stages if not treated. There is a unique set of symptoms at each stage of infection. People are highly contagious during the first and second stages and can readily contaminate their sex partners. The following are the phases of syphilis:
Primary syphilis
The first stage of syphilis disease occurs two to twelve weeks after contact with the pathogen. A smooth, red lesion named a chancre appears on the genital area or in the mouth during this phase. Within a few weeks or months, it will fade out by itself.
Secondary syphilis
A coarse, bumpy syphilis patch emerges on the body between one six months just after chancre fades away, mainly on the soles (bottoms) of your feet and palms. Fever, tiredness, a sore throat, and muscle pain are all possible flu symptoms.
Latent syphilis
If the first tow stages of syphilis is not diagnosed syphilis will progress latently. There are no noticeable syphilis symptoms during this period, but the disease can harm your bones, heart, neurons, and organs.
Tertiary (late) syphilis
Many women’s symptoms do not advance past the latent stage of syphilis, perhaps because the disease heals itself or the signs are too faint to recognize. Moreover, syphilis is one of the sexually transmitted diseases, it can result in a variety of significant health issues gradually, including:
- Brain Damage
- Heart Disease
- Nerve Damage
- Vision Problems
So, if there are any early signs of syphilis in females, they must undergo a syphilis diagnosis test and take the necessary treatment.
Syphilis Cause
The cause of syphilis in females is the bacteria Treponema pallidum. The bacteria are spread by an infectious individual during vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse. Bacteria enter the human body via the anus, penis, vagina, mouth, or a break in the skin.
Syphilis is one of the contagious sexually transmitted diseases. You can contaminate your partner if you are having syphilis and have sex. If you have the infection and are pregnant, you can pass it on to your unborn child. However, syphilis cannot contract by directly contacting objects such as toilet seats, utensils, or door handles.
Treatment and Diagnosis
Diagnosis
If you suspect you have syphilis, make an appointment with your doctor right away, and they’ll obtain a blood sample and perform a full medical examination to perform tests. If you have a sore, your physician might take samples from it to see if the bacterium that causes syphilis is present.
Moreover, if your doctor thinks tertiary syphilis is causing nervous system difficulties, you would need a lumbar puncture, often known as a spinal tap. The doctor will collect spinal fluid to screen for syphilis bacteria during this procedure.
If you’re pregnant, your physician may screen you for syphilis since the bacterium might be present in the human body despite you knowing it. This is to protect the fetus from contracting hereditary syphilis. Congenital syphilis has the potential to kill or severely harm an infant.
Treatment of Syphilis Disease
Both primary and secondary syphilis disease treatment is possible with a penicillin injection. Penicillin is a popular antibiotic that is generally successful in treating syphilis. Patients with penicillin allergies will almost certainly be prescribed another antibiotic, like:
- Ceftriaxone
- doxycycline
- Azithromycin
If you suffer from neurosyphilis, you will be given daily intravenous penicillin dosages, which will almost always necessitate a short hospitalization. Regrettably, the effects of late syphilis are irreversible. Although the germs will eradicate, most treatments will reduce discomfort and pain.
Avoid sexual contact throughout therapy until all sores on your body have healed and your doctor says it’s safe to continue sex. If you’re sexually active, you must treat your partner the same way. Wait while you and your companion have finished treatment before beginning the sexual activity.
Prevention & Management Tips After Treatment
Safe sex is the greatest way to avoid contracting syphilis. Use condoms whenever you have sexual contact. It may also be beneficial to:
- During oral sexual intercourse, use dental dike or condoms.
- Sharing sex toys is not a good idea.
- Get tested for STIs and discuss the results with your partners.
- Syphilis could also spread through the use of shared needles. If you’re using injected medications, don’t share needles.
Discuss with your healthcare professional openly and honestly. Your healthcare professional can assist you in determining your risk, taking precautions, and developing a strategy to keep healthy. If you have HIV, your risk is increased. When having sex, always use a condom and regularly diagnose syphilis and other STDs.
Bottom Line
Syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can pose serious health care. They demand urgent attention from a healthcare provider right now. You have a higher risk of contracting syphilis with several sex partners.
Also read about chlamydia
FAQs
What is the prognosis for syphilis patients?
In the initial stages of syphilis, antibiotics can help. If diagnosed early, syphilis does not create long-term health concerns.
Syphilis, if left untreated, can lead to serious health complications, and it can harm the heart, brain, bones, eyes, muscles, and neurons and be deadly. Antibiotics can treat the infection, but organ damage caused by syphilis is reversible.
Is it possible for me to contract syphilis again after treatment?
You are not immune to syphilis if you have received treatment for it. After therapy, you may contract the infection again. Moreover, ff you have a significant disease risk, it’s critical to practice safe sex and undergo regular testing for syphilis disease.
Who is at risk of contracting syphilis?
Anyone who engages in sexual activity can contract syphilis, although certain people are at a higher risk than others.
- Have unprotected sex, especially if you’ve multiple people.
- HIV positive
- Have had sex with someone who has been diagnosed with syphilis.
