What is Syphilis?

Introduction:

A medication-assisted therapy (MAT) is available for STI syphilis. Syphilis can lead to major health issues and even death if left untreated. It can harm the heart, brain, muscles, bones, and eyes. Always use a condom during intercourse to lower your risk of contracting an infection.

What is Syphilis?

OVERVIEW

What is Syphilis?

A fatal transmitted infection is a syphilis (STI). Through sexual contact with an infected person, it is transmitted. Syphilis, if left untreated, can cause blindness, mental health issues, damage to the brain, heart, eyes, and nerve system, as well as death or life-threatening health issues.

Stages of Syphilis:

What syphilis stages are there?

Syphilis develops in four stages if untreated. Each stage of the illness results in a different set of symptoms. People who are in the first and second phases of the illness are contagious and can infect their sex partners. There are four syphilis stages:

Primary syphilis: Two to twelve weeks after contact with the germs, the first stage sets in. A chancre is a smooth, crimson sore that forms on the mouth or genitalia at this phase. In a few weeks or months, it disappears on its own. Because chancres are small and painless, you might not even be aware that they exist.

Secondary syphilis: A rough, bumpy syphilis rash develops on the body one to six months after the chancre goes away, on the palms and soles (bottoms) of the feet. Also, you can experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, tiredness, sore throat, and muscle aches. For months or years, these symptoms can appear and disappear.

Latent syphilis: If syphilis isn’t treated during the first two stages, the infection moves into the latent stage. Although there are no outer signs or symptoms of syphilis during this phase, the infection can damage your heart, bones, nerves, and organs. This stage can last several years. 

Tertiary (late) syphilis: For many people, the infection settles on its own or the symptoms are little enough to be ignored to keep them from going past the latent stage. A third of individuals develop the late stages of syphilis, which can result in some major health issues. These issues develop and include:

• Alzheimer's disease, mental health issues, and brain damage.
• Heart illness.
• Muscle issues and movement difficulties.
• Nerve harm.
• Seizures.
• Tumors are found on the skin and bones.
• vision issues.

Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection to the fetus. Syphilis causes severe health problems in babies and children. It can be fatal. There has been a rise in congenital syphilis in the country and all pregnant women should be filtered for syphilis. 

How widespread is syphilis?

Recent years have seen an increase in syphilis cases, especially in gay and bisexual males. Approximately 80,000 people are given syphilis diagnoses each year. Men are more likely to contract the infection, and people in their early 20s are more likely to develop it.

Who could contract syphilis?

Anyone who engages in sexual activity has the potential to contact syphilis, although some people are more vulnerable. You are more likely to contract syphilis if you:

• Are a man who has sex with men, gay, bisexual, or (MSM).
• Unprotected sex is enabled, especially if you have many partners.
• who has HIV?
• have experienced sexual contact with a syphilis-positive person.
• tested positive for another STI, such as gonorrhea, herpes, or chlamydia.

Syphilis can be transferred to the fetus by a pregnant individual who has the disease. Syphilis testing should be done on expectant mothers. Infected infants and children may die or experience serious health issues.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

Why does syphilis develop?

Syphilis is brought on by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The bacteria is transmitted by oral, vaginal, or anal sex by an infected person. The anus, vagina, penis, mouth, or broken skin are the main entry points for germs into the body.

Syphilis spreads: You can infect your partner if you have syphilis and have sex. Syphilis can be transferred to the fetus if the mother has it and is pregnant. Yet, syphilis cannot be acquired by contact with objects like doorknobs, utensils, or toilet seats.

What symptoms do you have of syphilis?

Depending on the stage of the infection, syphilis symptoms change. A chancre (a tiny, painless sore) appears on the genitalia during the initial stage. A pink, bumpy, rough rash emerges on the body during the second stage of syphilis, on the palms of your hands or the bottoms of your feet. Also, flu-like symptoms like weariness, fever, sore throat, and muscle aches could be present.

You are contagious during the first and second stages of syphilis. If your partner touches the rash or chancre while having sex, you run the risk of spreading the infection.

What is a chancre (syphilis sore)?

A tiny sore known as a chancre appears on the lips, mouth, or genitalia during the early stages of syphilis. Because it is painless and can resemble a pimple, a chancre can be simple to overlook. You might not see it because it can also develop inside the rectum, vagina, or under the foreskin of the penis. The chancre:

• Appears between two and twelve weeks following bacterial interaction.
• Develops on the lips, vulva, vagina, anus, penis, or scrotum.
• is spherical, hard, smooth, and red with a potential yellow discharge.
• Takes two to six weeks to disappear.

Even when the chancre vanishes after a few weeks, you still have syphilis until you receive treatment. Whether you have a sore, you are contagious if you have syphilis and refuse treatment. Without showing any symptoms, some persons may have latent syphilis. Speak with your provider if you believe you have been exposed.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS

How is syphilis diagnosed?

Your doctor will inquire about your sexual history, including whether you engage in safe sex. It's crucial to be sincere during this conversation. Your doctor can assist you in determining your risk and also suggest tests for more STIs.

Your healthcare professional will examine you and draw a sample of blood to check for symptoms of syphilis. Your healthcare professional could take a small sample of fluid or skin from a chancre to test in a lab. Only by visiting your doctor and receiving a lab test can you be certain whether you have syphilis.

Management And Treatment

How is syphilis treated?

Healthcare professionals use penicillin-based antibiotics to treat syphilis. Even if the rash or chancre goes away, you still need to finish the entire course of antibiotics. It's crucial to get in touch with anybody you've had sex with within the past two years and suggest that they get tested.

After you complete a course of syphilis treatment, your doctor will do a blood test to ensure the infection has been eliminated. If you have a higher chance of contracting syphilis, make careful to practice safe sex and get tested. Syphilis can recur after treatment.

Early syphilis can be cured with a single injection of long-acting Benzathine penicillin G. This includes latent, primary, and secondary syphilis. For late latent syphilis or latent syphilis of uncertain duration, the CDC advises three weekly doses of long-acting Benzathine penicillin G.

Treatment will clear up the infection and stop further harm, but it won't reverse any already done harm.

The best penicillin preparation must be used to treat and cure syphilis. For further information on syphilis treatment, refer to the STI Treatment Guidelines. For those who are allergic to penicillin, the recommendations also include alternative possibilities.

Syphilis patients should refrain from sexual activity with new partners until all sores have healed. They should also inform their sex partner(s) so that they can get tested and treated if necessary.

Prevention

How can I lower my chance of contracting syphilis?

Syphilis can only be avoided by not having sex. If you engage in sexual activity, using a condom or dental dam during sex will help lower your risk of contracting the illness. Use a condom to reduce your risk of contracting the virus.

Prognosis

Early syphilis can be treated with antibiotics. If syphilis is treated early, there are no long-term health issues.

Syphilis can lead to serious health issues in the absence of treatment. It can be fatal and cause harm to the heart, bones, brain, eyes, muscles, and nerves. The infection can be treated with antibiotics, but the syphilis-damaged organs cannot be repaired.

After receiving treatment, might I contract syphilis once more?

Even if you have had syphilis treatment, you are still susceptible to it. After therapy, you may contract the infection once more. Because of this, it's critical to engage in safe sex and to be tested if your risk of infection is high.

How do I take care of myself?

Serious health issues are brought on by syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STDs). They need a healthcare provider's rapid medical attention.

You run a higher risk of contracting syphilis if you have several sexual partners or if you're a man who engages in male-to-male sexual activity. If you have HIV, your risk is increased. Always use a condom during sexual activity, and get checked for syphilis and other STDs.

Syphilis can be cured. To avoid long-term health issues, it's critical to get tested and treated for syphilis as soon as it is discovered. Your healthcare physician and you should discuss your sexual history in an open and sincere manner. Your healthcare professional can help you with risk inspection, safety measures, and creating a health strategy.

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