What Is It?
Syphilis (pronounced: siff-ill-iss) is a sexually transmitted disease
caused by a bacteria that is known as a spirochete (through a microscope,
it looks like a corkscrew or spiral) It is extremely small and can
live almost anywhere in the body.
The spirochetes that cause syphilis can be passed from one person
to another through direct contact with a syphilis sore during sexual
intercourse (vaginal, anal, or oral sex). The infection can also
be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy. You cannot
catch syphilis from a towel, doorknob, or toilet seat.
In the early 1980's there was a decrease in the number of people
that were infected with syphilis. However, more recently there has
been a steady increase in reported cases of syphilis, especially
in young adults and in men that have male sexual partners. In its
early stages, syphilis is easily treatable. However, if left untreated,
it can cause serious problems - even death. So it's important to
understand as much as you can about this disease.
How Does An Individual Know that He or She Has it?
Syphilis occurs in four different stages:
Stage One
Red, wet sores that don't hurt appear on the vagina, rectum, penis,
or mouth. This type of sore is called a chancre (shank-er), and
it appears in the first place that the spirochetes moved from one
person to another. After a few weeks, the chancre will disappear.
Swollen glands may also appear during the first stage. Syphilis
is highly contagious during this first stage. Unfortunately it can
be easy to miss because the chancres are painless and can appear
in areas that may not be easy to see, like in the mouth, under the
foreskin, or on the anus.
Stage Two
If syphilis hasn't been treated yet, the person will usually break
out in a rash, especially on the soles of the feet and palms of
the hands. Sometimes the rashes associated with syphilis can be
very faint or look like rashes from other infections and therefore,
may not be noticed. Sores can appear on the lips, mouth, throat,
vagina, and anus. Flu-like symptoms, such as fever and achiness,
can also be present in this stage. Stage two usually lasts 1 to
2 weeks and will go away with or without treatment.
Stage Three
If syphilis still hasn't been treated yet, the person will have
a period of the illness called latent (hidden) syphilis. This means
that all the symptoms of the disease go away, but the disease is
still very much there. Even though the disease is "hiding,"
the spirochetes are still moving around the body. Syphilis can remain
latent for many years.
Stage Four (Late Stage)
If the disease still hasn't been treated at this point, it becomes
known as tertiary syphilis. This means the spirochetes have spread
all over the body and can affect the brain, the heart, the spinal
cord, and bones. Symptoms of late syphilis can include difficulty
walking, numbness, gradual blindness, and possibly even death.
How Long Until You See the Symptoms?
A person who has been exposed to the spirochetes that cause syphilis
may notice a chancre from 3 days to 3 months later, though the average
is 3 weeks. If the syphilis is not treated, the second stage of
the disease may occur anywhere from about 3 to 6 weeks after the
original sore (chancre). It's important to keep in mind that many
people never notice any symptoms of syphilis.
What Can Happen?
Syphilis can be very dangerous to a person's health if left untreated.
In both guys and girls, the spirochetes can spread throughout the
whole body, infecting major organs. Brain damage and other serious
health problems can occur, many of which can't be treated. A woman
who is pregnant and hasn't been effectively treated is at great
risk of putting her baby in danger. Untreated syphilis can also
cause major birth defects. Syphilis also increases the risk of HIV
infection, because HIV can enter the body more easily when there's
a sore present.
How Is It Treated?
If you think you may have syphilis or if you have had sexual contact
with someone who may have syphilis, you need to see your doctor
or gynecologist right away. As it can sometimes be difficult to
spot chancres, it's important to get checked on a regular basis,
especially if you have had unprotected sex and/or more than one
sex partner.
Depending on the stage, the doctor can make a diagnosis by examining
the discharge from chancres, or he or she can do a blood test to
look for the spirochetes. Early stages of syphilis are easily cured
with antibiotics. If an individual has been infected for a long
period of time, they will need treatment for a longer period of
time. Unfortunately, damage to the body from the late stage of syphilis
cannot be treated. Therefore, anyone with whom you've had unprotected
sex should also be checked for syphilis immediately.
How Can You Prevent Getting Syphilis?
The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease is to not
have sex. However, for those that decide to be sexually active,
it's important to use protection and to have as few sexual partners
as possible. Latex condoms are effective against most STDs, however,
if there are any sores or rashes that cannot be covered by the condom,
it's a good idea to refrain from having sex at that time.
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