What is Syphilis
Syphilis disease begins as a painless pain — usually on your genitals, rectum, or mouth. Syphilis spreads from one person to another through contact of the skin or mucous membrane with these lesions.
Symptoms of Syphilis
Syphilis can be difficult and there are not many symptoms in the early stages; You may not even notice them. Some early detection can be painless, also known as “chancre”. This pain usually occurs in the genital area, but may also occur on the mouth or anus. The disease can be difficult for even the most experienced medical person.
Symptoms of Primary Syphilis
Primary syphilis is the first stage of syphilis. Symptoms seen in the first phase are-
A painless lesion called a chanker develops any time from 10 days to 3 months after exposure.
Chancre normally appears on the genital area, but may also form on the lips, tongue, or rectum if these areas are in contact with the syphilis sac during oral or anal sexual contact on another person. A chance in the vagina, mouth, or rectum is usually not easily seen.
The tanker recovers in one to five weeks.
Symptoms of Secondary Syphilis
Within a few weeks of the original glassy treatment, you may experience a rash that starts on your torso, but eventually covers your entire body – even the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet Too. This rash is usually not itchy and may occur with warts like warts in the mouth or genital area – some, people experience muscle pain, fever, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes. These signs and symptoms may disappear within a few weeks or recur frequently and last for a year longer.
Latent syphilis – If you are not treated for syphilis, the disease moves from a secondary to latent (hidden) phase when you have no symptoms. The latent state can last for years.
Tertiary or Late Syphilis — About 15 to 30% of people infected with syphilis who do not receive treatment will develop complications called tertiary, or late, syphilis. In late stages, the disease can damage your brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. These problems may occur several years after the original, untreated infection.
Congenital Syphilis – Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling and often life-threatening infection in infants. A pregnant mother who has syphilis can spread the disease to the newborn through the placenta. It is caused by the bacterium Troponamylidium, which is passed from mother to child during fetal development or at birth. Almost all babies are infected with syphilis, while they are in the region in the womb, dying shortly before or after birth.
The cause of syphilis is a bacterium called treponoma pulidum. The most common route of transmission is through the throat contact of an infected person during sexual activity. Bacteria enter your body through minor cuts or abrasions in your skin or mucous membranes. Syphilis is contagious during its primary and secondary stages, and sometimes in the early latent period.
The preferred treatment at all stages is penicillin, an antibiotic medicine that can kill the organism that causes syphilis. A single injection of penicillin may prevent the disease from progressing. If you have been infected for less than a year, you may need additional doses.
The only recommended treatment for pregnant women with syphilis is penicillin.
The treatment is as follows-
Avoid sexual contact until treatment is complete and blood tests indicate that the infection has been cured.
Inform your sex partners so that they can be tested and receive treatment if necessary.
Should be tested for HIV infection.
Periodic blood tests and examinations make sure that you are responding to normal doses of penicillin.