Syphilis is a highly infectious sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. This disease, if not treated properly, can cause irreversible damage to the nerves and tissues of the body and brain; it is a chronic and systemic disease that can affect almost all tissues and organs. The number of cases of syphilis decreased until 2000, but has since increased (mostly in men); for example, in 2013 alone, there were 56,471 new cases of syphilis in the United States. If you suspect that you have this disease, you need to learn to recognize the symptoms and get treated, but even if you don't have it, you need to know how to prevent it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms
Step 1. Know how syphilis is contracted
Once you understand how people get infected, you can determine if you are at risk. People contract this STD through physical contact with infected parts of the body of an already ill person. These are mostly sores that can appear externally on the penis and in the external vaginal area, or inside the vaginal canal, anus and rectum. They can also be present on the lips and inside the mouth.
- If you have had vaginal, anal, and oral sex with an infected person, know that you are at risk of contracting the disease too.
- However, to get syphilis, you need to come into direct contact with an infected lesion. This STD is not transmitted through common kitchen utensils, toilet seats, door handles, hot tubs or swimming pools.
- Men who have sex with other men (MSM) are significantly more likely to contract syphilis (in 2013 alone, 75% of new cases were reported in the United States). So it is especially important to follow safe sex practices if you are a man who has sex with other men.
Step 2. Be aware that carriers (healthy carriers) of syphilis may not show obvious signs for years and may not know they have contracted the disease
During the early stages of the disease, no significant evident symptoms are noted, and many people do not even know they have the infection. Since the vectors show no symptoms and sores, you may not recognize that it is an STD and may not treat it for long periods of time. Since minor lesions can progress gradually from 1 to 20 years from the onset of infection, carriers can unknowingly transmit the disease to other people.
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of syphilis in the primary stage
Syphilis has 3 phases: primary, secondary and latent late / tertiary. The primary phase usually begins about 3 weeks after the first exposure to the infection. However, symptoms can begin to appear anytime 10 to 90 days after contact.
- The primary stage of syphilis typically begins with the appearance of a painless sore called an "ulcer," which is usually small, hard and circular. Although usually only one appears, others can form.
- The sore appears when the infection has entered the body. The most common sites where it forms are the mouth, genitals and anus.
- The lesion heals on its own in 4-8 weeks and leaves no scars. However, this does not mean that the syphilis is gone. Without proper treatment, the infection simply moves into the second stage.
Step 4. Know the difference between primary and secondary syphilis
The secondary stage of the disease usually begins 4-8 weeks after contracting the initial infection and lasts from 1 to 3 months. This phase begins with a "maculopapular eruption" on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. This type of rash typically does not itch, but does cause dark, rough, reddish patches on the skin. At this stage, other skin rashes with a slightly different appearance may also appear in other parts of the body; however, people often don't notice them or associate them with other causes. This generally results in a delay in the treatment of the actual pathology.
- At the end of this phase, additional symptoms appear which are frequently mistaken for other types of problems, such as the flu or stress.
- Among these symptoms are: fatigue, body aches, fever, sore throat, headache, swollen lymph glands, patchy hair loss and weight loss.
- About 1/3 of people who do not receive adequate care during the secondary stage of the infection will develop latent or tertiary syphilis. The latent phase is the asymptomatic one that precedes the onset of the tertiary phase.
Step 5. Learn to recognize the symptoms of infection in the latent and tertiary phase
The latent phase begins when the symptoms of the first two phases disappear. The syphilis bacteria are still present in the body, but there are no longer any signs or symptoms of the disease; this phase can last for years. However, about 1/3 of people who are not treated during this latent phase will develop the tertiary phase of syphilis, which has severe symptoms. This last stage may not even occur until 10 or 40 years after the initial infection.
- Tertiary-stage syphilis can cause damage to the brain, heart, eyes, liver, bones, and joints, which can be severe enough to even cause death.
- Other symptoms of the tertiary phase include difficulty in movement, muscle numbness, paralysis, progressive blindness, and dementia.
Step 6. Be especially careful in checking for symptoms in children
If a pregnant woman has syphilis, she can transfer the disease-causing bacteria to the fetus via the placenta. In this case, proper antenatal care is required to help the doctor deal with and manage any complications. The most common symptoms seen in babies born with syphilis are:
- Intermittent fevers.
- Enlargement of the spleen and liver (hepatosplenomegaly).
- Swelling of the lymph nodes.
- Chronic sneezing or runny nose with no apparent allergic cause (persistent rhinitis).
- Maculopapular eruptions on the palms and soles of the feet.
Part 2 of 3: Diagnosing and Treating Syphilis
Step 1. See your doctor if you suspect you have contracted the infection
If you are concerned that you have come into contact with a syphilis sore, see your doctor immediately. Get examined even if you notice any unusual discharge, sores or rashes, especially in the genital area.
Step 2. Undergo routine tests if you fall into the "risk categories"
All people considered "at risk" are strongly advised to have periodic or annual checkups for syphilis, even in the absence of symptoms. However, studies have found that if you are not "at risk" you do not benefit from regular screening. Conversely, you may be undergoing unnecessary antibiotic treatment and a greater burden of anxiety. You fall into the "at risk" category if:
- You have casual sex.
- You have a sexual partner who tested positive for syphilis.
- You have HIV.
- You are a pregnant woman.
- You are a man who has sex with other men.
Step 3. Run a blood test to confirm the diagnosis
The most effective way to check for the presence of infection is through a test that analyzes the presence of syphilis antibodies in the blood. This exam is inexpensive and easy to perform; you can do it at a partner clinic or in a public health facility. Doctors may use one of the following methods to look for syphilis antibodies in the blood:
- Non-treponemal test: This is ideal for screening purposes and is approximately 70% accurate. If the test is positive, the doctor will need to have the next treponemal test to confirm the diagnosis.
- Treponemal test: this is a more specific antibody analysis and is performed to obtain confirmation, rather than for screening purposes.
- Some clinical tests for syphilis involve taking a sample from a suspected sore and analyzing it under a special microscope to look for Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes the infection.
- All patients should be tested for HIV infection.
Step 4. Get antibiotic treatment
Syphilis is relatively simple to treat and cure with due medical attention. The earlier the infection is diagnosed, the easier the treatment is; if treated within the first year, a single dose of penicillin can completely cure the disease. Antibiotics can be very effective when the infection is still in the primary stage, but they can have a lesser effect when the syphilis is already in an advanced stage. People who have contracted the disease for more than a year may need multiple doses of antibiotics, while if they are in the latent or tertiary phase of the infection, they probably need 3 doses per week.
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to penicillin. In this case you will be prescribed a replacement treatment for 2 weeks of doxycycline or tetracycline. Be aware, however, that these alternatives are not suitable for pregnant women, due to the risk of birth defects. If you are a pregnant woman, your doctor will need to discuss further treatment options with you
Step 5. Don't try to cure syphilis on your own
Penicillin, doxycycline and tetracycline are effective in killing syphilis bacteria and expelling them from the body, but no home remedy or over-the-counter drug is effective. Only a doctor can prescribe the necessary dosage of the medicine to cure the disease.
- Keep in mind that even though medications can cure syphilis, they cannot repair the damage that has already been done.
- Know that the tests and treatments are similar for children as well.
Step 6. Let your doctor monitor your progress
Once the therapy is finished, your doctor will want to take the non-treponemal test again every 3 months, so that you can check your body's response to the treatment. If your test results do not show improvement within 6 months, it could mean that your treatment is inadequate or you have a recurring infection that needs to be addressed.
Step 7. Avoid having sex until the infection clears
It is extremely important to refrain from sexual contact while still being treated, especially with new partners. As long as all the lesions have not healed and the doctor declares that you no longer have any traces of infection in the body, you would risk transmitting the disease to other subjects.
You should also inform all sexual partners you have had prior to diagnosis so that they too can undergo follow-up tests and possibly seek treatment
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Syphilis
Step 1. Use latex, polyurethane or dental dams condoms
Wearing them during vaginal, anal, or even oral intercourse can reduce the risk of contracting syphilis. However, be sure to completely cover the sore or site of infection with a condom. Always use it with new sexual partners, as they too may not know they have syphilis, especially if there are no visible lesions.
- Be aware that you can still get syphilis if the sore isn't completely covered by the condom.
- It is strongly recommended to use dental dams for oral sex with women, as they cover a larger area than condoms that you can cut to open them. However, if you don't have a dental dam, you can cut a male condom and open it for use as an alternative.
- Condoms made of latex and polyurethane offer the same protection against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. Otherwise, "natural" or "lambskin" ones do not provide adequate protection against STDs.
- Use a new condom for every sex session. Never reuse the same, even for different types of penetration (vaginal, anal, oral), during the same intercourse.
- Use water-based lubricants with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly, mineral oil, or body lotion can weaken the latex and increase the risk of contracting an STD.
Step 2. Avoid casual sex
You can't be sure that casual sex partners don't have a sexually transmitted disease; therefore, it is best to refrain from this practice. If you know for certain that your partner has syphilis, you should completely avoid sexual contact with him, even by wearing a condom.
The safest solution of all is to have a long-term monogamous relationship with a partner who tested negative for syphilis and other STDs
Step 3. Avoid excessive use of alcohol and drugs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise against the excessive use of these substances, as they can increase the chances of engaging in dangerous sexual behavior and, consequently, fall into the "at risk" category.
Step 4. Seek proper prenatal care if you are a pregnant woman
It is very important that pregnant women receive good antenatal care, which also includes testing for syphilis. Healthcare professionals recommend that all pregnant women be tested for syphilis, as this infection can be easily transmitted to the fetus, resulting in serious illness and often even death.
- Babies who have contracted syphilis from their mother are much more likely to be underweight, be born premature, or even die.
- Even if the baby is born without symptoms, know that if he is infected but not properly treated, he can develop serious health problems within a few weeks. These problems include deafness, cataracts, seizures and potentially even death.
- All of this can be avoided if the mother is tested for syphilis throughout her pregnancy and at the time of delivery. If the test is positive, both the mother and the baby can be treated.
Advice
- Syphilis is easy to cure as long as it is diagnosed early. A person who has had the infection for less than a year is treated with a penicillin injection. Instead, a couple of doses are needed to treat those who have had syphilis for more than a year.
- The safest way to avoid contracting an STI, including syphilis, is to practice abstinence or have a mutually monogamous relationship for a long time with a partner who has performed the tests and is negative for infection.
- People undergoing therapy should not have sexual intercourse until the ulcers have completely healed. Those who have syphilis should inform their partners so that they too can seek treatment if necessary.
- Syphilis cannot be transmitted by contact with kitchen utensils, doorknobs, swimming pools or the toilet.
- Doctors can diagnose syphilis by analyzing a sample taken from an ulcer or even through a blood test. These are two very simple, accurate and inexpensive tests that can potentially save lives. See your doctor if you suspect you have syphilis.
Warnings
- In the presence of genital ulcers, it is easier to transmit and contract HIV infection during sexual activity.
- There are no home remedies or over-the-counter medications that can cure syphilis.
- Condoms lubricated with spermicides are no more effective than other lubricated condoms in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Untreated syphilis in a pregnant woman can infect and possibly kill the developing fetus.
