Syphilis
Essential facts
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a
small organism called a spirochaete. It is easily treated, but can cause
serious complications if not treated early.
Both men and women can have syphilis, and it can be
passed from an infected pregnant woman to her unborn infant.
How do you know you have it?
Syphilis occurs in three stages, and you may not know
you have it unless you have a blood test.
The first stage shows as a hard usually painless sore on
the genitals, mouth or other point of sexual contact. This sore will
usually appear three to four weeks after infection, but it can appear any
time from ten to ninety days after infection. It normally heals completely
within four weeks from the time it first appears. Even though symptoms
disappear without treatment you remain infectious.
During the second stage there may be a flat red rash on
the body, hair loss, fever, lumps on the genitals or general tiredness.
These symptoms may appear two to four months after infection and last
several weeks. If not treated they often come back. The rash can be over
the whole body, and is very contagious.
An infected, untreated person may remain infectious
through sexual contact for up to two years.
The third stage occurs many years after the initial
infection. It only occurs in about a third of untreated individuals, and
may involve the brain or the heart, producing severe complications. This
stage is not infectious.
Diagnosis and treatment
Syphilis is diagnosed by blood tests. Penicillin is the
most effective treatment.
You should not have sex until your partner has been
tested and treated.
After treatment, you will need to see a doctor for
regular blood tests to confirm that you have been cured.
How can it be prevented?
- Use condoms during sex. A condom used properly will
reduce the risk of infection.
- If you have syphilis, do not have further sex until
treatment is finished.
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