Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis can have serious health complications if left untreated. Treponema pallidum is the bacteria that cause syphilis. In addition to the skin, mucous membranes, nervous system, and cardiovascular system, syphilis can affect many parts of the body.
Normally, syphilis spreads through sexual contact, such as vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn child, resulting in congenital syphilis.
A syphilis sore, which can appear on the genitals, anus, mouth, or other parts of the body, can transmit the disease through casual contact, such as sharing utensils, clothing, or toilet seats.
Syphilis has four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. The symptoms of syphilis vary depending on the stage of the infection.
Primary Syphilis
Usually, syphilis begins with a painless sore called a chancre that appears at the site of infection within three weeks of exposure, but can last for 10 to 90 days. A chancre usually heals on its own within 3 to 6 weeks, but the infection can still spread to others during this time.
The second stage of syphilis occurs about 2 to 8 weeks after the chancre appears. It is characterized by a rash that can cover the whole body or only some parts of it. Other symptoms of this rash include fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, fatigue, and hair loss. The infection remains active and can damage internal organs even if these symptoms resolve on their own in a few weeks or months.
When syphilis is latent, it does not show any visible signs or symptoms. It can last for years or even decades. The infection can still be detected by blood tests and passed on to sexual partners or unborn children during this stage. The tertiary stage may be reached by some individuals, while the primary stage may not occur for others.
It is the most serious and potentially life-threatening stage of syphilis when the infection damages the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. The tertiary stage can occur 10 to 30 years after the initial infection, or even later. It can cause neurosyphilis, cardiovascular syphilis, gummatous syphilis, and ocular syphilis.
An individual can be diagnosed with syphilis based on their history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Blood tests are the most common test for syphilis since they detect antibodies to the bacteria. It is impossible to determine the current stage of an infection or the effectiveness of the treatment based on these tests, since they can be positive after the infection has been treated.
Other tests that can be used to diagnose syphilis include:
Dark-field microscopy, which involves examining a sample of fluid from a syphilis sore under a special microscope that can detect the bacteria.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which involves amplifying the DNA of the bacteria from a sample of blood, fluid, or tissue.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, which involves collecting and testing the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This can help diagnose neurosyphilis.
It is possible to cure syphilis with antibiotics, usually penicillin. Pregnant women, people who are allergic to penicillin, and people who have HIV or other co-infections may also require different treatments depending on the stage and severity of the infection.
In order to monitor the response to the antibiotic treatment, it is important to finish the prescribed course of antibiotics and follow up with the doctor. Those who have been treated for syphilis should abstain from sexual activity until they and their partners are cured. Blood tests can be repeated periodically to check the level of antibodies and confirm the cure. Also, they should inform their previous sexual partners of their diagnosis and encourage them to get tested and treated.
You can prevent syphilis by practicing safe sex, which means using condoms or dental dams whenever you have oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Additionally, if you have more than one partner or are new to sexual partners, it is important to limit your number of sexual partners and get tested for STIs regularly. Your health care provider may recommend that you get screened for syphilis at your first prenatal visit and again later in the pregnancy. You should avoid sexual contact with your partners if you have syphilis until you are cured.
Symptoms of syphilis and risk factors for the disease should be discussed with your doctor as soon as possible. If left untreated, syphilis can have long-term consequences. It is possible to prevent the spread of the infection and avoid complications in later stages if you treat the infection early.
