by: Dr. Paul Chang, General Practitioner, Regis Medical
Syphilis is a common STI caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The STI develops in stages with different signs and symptoms. If left untreated, the STI can cause serious health complications.
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The symptoms of Syphilis differ depending on the stage. There are four stages of syphilis. These include the primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary.
Primary Stage
During the primary stage of syphilis, the main symptom you will notice is a sore, or multiple sores. These sores usually occur in, on, or around the penis, vagina, anus, rectum, lips, or in the mouth. These sores are painless and may not be noticeable.
Secondary Stage
During the secondary stage, you may experience symptoms such as sores and skin rashes in your mouth, vagina, or anus. The rash can also appear on your palms or the bottom of your feet. Other symptoms may include:
Latent Stage
In the latent stage, you will not experience any visible signs or symptoms of syphilis.
Tertiary Stage
In this stage of the infection, the disease damages your organ systems, such as the heart and blood vessels, and the brain and nervous system, and can even result in death.
Neurosyphilis, Ocular Syphilis, and Otosyphilis
When left untreated, the infection can spread to:
This spread can happen in any of the above stages.
Symptoms of neurosyphilis include:
Symptoms of ocular syphilis include:
Symptoms of otosyphilis include:
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which is transmitted through direct contact with a syphilis sore on a carrier’s body. This typically happens during sexual activity. However, the bacteria can also be transmitted if it enters your body via cuts in your skins or through your mucous membranes.
Risk Factors of Syphilis include:
If you experience any signs or symptoms of syphilis, or suspect that you may have gotten a STI, it is important to get STD Tests.
To diagnose syphilis, these tests may be used:
It is important to seek treatment for syphilis. The STI can cause damage throughout the body, leading to health complications. Treatment will help to prevent damage but will not reverse damage caused by the STI, thus making it important to get treated early. Health complications caused by syphilis include:
Early treatment is crucial for an STI like syphilis that progresses in stages. Syphilis is easier to cure in its early stages and early treatment will prevent syphilis from progressing further.
Medication
Penicillin is used to treat syphilis at all stages. In the early stages, a single dose of penicillin is used. In the later stages, additional doses may be necessary. Penicillin is an antibiotic medication.
After you have been treated for syphilis, you will need to:
Anyone who is sexually active will be at risk of syphilis. However, there are preventive steps that you can take to reduce your risk of syphilis. These include:
If you experience any signs or symptoms of syphilis, or suspect that you may have been infected with a STI, it is important to consult a trusted healthcare provider and get yourself screened. While it may be embarrassing to discuss your sexual history with a doctor, it is crucial information that will help a doctor decide the best course of action regarding your condition.
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“Syphilis – CDC Basic Fact Sheet.” STD Facts - Syphilis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Feb. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis.htm#:~:text=Syphilis%20is%20a%20sexually%20transmitted,have%20different%20signs%20and%20symptoms.
SYPHILIS, HealthHub, 21 Feb. 2022, https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/92/syphilis.
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Syphilis - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic, 25 Sept. 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/syphilis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351756.
Syphilis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, WebMD