Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. The disease progresses in stages and, without treatment, can lead to death.
Transmission occurs mainly from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores occur primarily on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Sores can also occur on the lips and in the mouth. Syphilis can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It can also be transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to her unborn child.
- Primary
- Secondary
- Latent
- Tertiary.
Symptoms vary within each of these stages and within each individual. Syphilis is sometimes called "the great imitator" because it has so many possible symptoms and they are similar to those of many other diseases. Furthermore, many people infected with the disease do not have any symptoms for years, yet remain at risk for late complications if they are not treated.
Having an
HIV infection at the same time can change the symptoms and course of the disease.
In order to make a
syphilis diagnosis, your healthcare provider will likely ask a number of questions about your medical history, perform a physical exam, and recommend certain tests. As part of the diagnostic process, your healthcare provider will also rule out other causes of possible
syphilis symptoms.
Testing can involve:
- Identifying the bacteria in a sample taken from a lesion (sore) and placed on a microscope slide (dark-field microscope)
- Blood test for the disease.
Treatment options will depend on:
Penicillin is the preferred drug used to treat the disease at all stages. If a person is allergic to penicillin, he or she may be given another antibiotic. A person is more likely to need repeat treatment if he or she gets an antibiotic other than penicillin.
While you are receiving treatment for syphilis, you should:
- Avoid any sexual activity during this time. Sexual contact should be avoided until the sores are completely healed.
- Tell your sexual partners so that they can be tested and treated, if necessary.
After you have completed treatment for syphilis, get retested after 6 months and 12 months. Some healthcare providers recommend more frequent followup tests.
Damage already done to body organs cannot be reversed. Also, having syphilis once does not protect a person from getting it again.
To
prevent syphilis, you must avoid contact with infected tissues and bodily fluids of an infected person. Most transmission, however, is from people who have no visible sores or rashes and who do not know they are infected.
There are things you can do to prevent syphilis. For example:
- Abstain from sex
- Be faithful
- Avoid alcohol and drug use
- Use condoms
- Understand birth control
- Talk with your doctors and sex partner(s)
- Have regular pelvic exams.
Pregnant women can pass the disease to their babies during pregnancy and childbirth. Untreated syphilis results in a high risk of a bad outcome of pregnancy. Therefore, if you are pregnant, you should be tested for the disease.
How Common Is the Disease?
Although primary and secondary syphilis in the United States declined by almost 90 percent from 1990 to 2000, the number of cases rose from 5,979 in 2000 to 7,352 in 2004. There was a dramatic increase in cases in men from 2000 to 2002 that reflects syphilis in men who have sex with men.
The incidence of infectious syphilis was highest in women 20 to 24 years of age and in men 35 to 39 years of age. Reported cases of congenital syphilis in newborns decreased from 2001 to 2002, with 492 new cases reported in 2001, compared to 412 cases in 2002.
Other names that people use for syphilis include:
- Pox
- Bad blood
- The great imitator
- Siff.
Other Syphilis Information
Some of the previously mentioned topics have a hyperlink to more detailed eMedTV articles. Click the specific link to view each article on syphilis. Additional articles include:
