Syphilis

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have syphilis, please consult your doctor.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is called the great imitator as the symptoms mimic the symptoms of many other diseases. The Syphilis disease can only be transmitted to another person by direct contact with the syphilis sores which can be found on the external genitals, vagina, anus or the rectum. Sores may also occur on the lips and in the mouth. If a woman is pregnant and has Syphilis she can pass the disease on to her baby. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm#WhatIs

A common myth is that Syphilis can be passed to another person via a toilet seat, doorknob, swimming pool, hot tub, bathtub, shared clothing or eating utensils. This is incorrect, Syphilis can only be passed via the sexual contact. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm#WhatIs

There are three stages to the Syphilis disease once it appears. There are many people who are unaware that they have Syphilis as it does not always appear right away. Some people do not have any symptoms for many years after being infected. Those are the people who may be at risk for complications if the disease is not treated in a timely manner.

Many other people do not realize that they have Syphilis even though they may develop a sore. These people may go through the first two stages and infect another person without realizing that what they have is Syphilis. It is during the first two stages that Syphilis is transmittable.

Stage one is indicated by a single sore (called a "chancre"), or multiple sores. The chancre is firm, round, small and painless, and may remain for 3 to 6 weeks. The chancre can appear anywhere between 10 to 90 days from the date of infection. The chancre can heal without treatment but if not treated, the infection will progress to the next stage.

Stage two may start while the chancre is healing or it may appear weeks later. This stage is characterized by a skin rash and mucous membrane lesions that develop on one or more areas of the body. The rash is not usually itchy and appears as a rough, red or reddish brown spots on the palms of the hands and the bottom of the feet. The rash may or may not develop on other parts of the body too. The rash is not always readily noticeable. In addition to the rash or rashes, the person may develop a fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches and fatigue. The symptoms could go away without treatment but if not treated, the disease will progress to the next phase. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm#WhatIs

Stage three occurs after the disease has progressed through the first two stages and can occur immediately or can occur 20 years later. Regardless of when stage three appears, a person who has not treated the disease will continue to have Syphilis even if there are no signs or symptoms. When and if the symptoms of the last stage develop, which it does in over 15% of people who have not sought treatment for the disease, it can cause damage to internal organs including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints. The signs and symptoms of this stage are difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness and dementia. The damage that is caused may be serious enough to cause death in the person. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm#WhatIs

If a person has Syphilis and the symptoms are active is sexually active with a person who is HIV positive, they are up to five times more likely to develop HIV.http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm#WhatIs

Syphilis can be diagnosed by a doctor using a dark-field microscope to examine material that is collected from the chancre sore. The disease may also be detected via a blood test shortly after the infection occurs.http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm#WhatIs

Syphilis is a curable disease and can be done quite easily if caught in the early stages of the disease. The disease is treated with penicillin or other antibiotic. The treatment kills the syphilis bacterium and will prevent any further damage but it cannot reverse any damage that has already been done to the persons body. It is very important that a person who has been infected with Syphilis seek treatment right away. http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm#WhatIs

• Blindness
• Heart disorders
• Mental disorders
• Nervous system problems
• Death

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