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Transmission
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Primarily transmitted during sexual contact. Pregnant mothers can also transfer the disease to a fetus resulting in deformities and death.
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Protection
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Always use a condom with spermicidal foam, cream or gel. |
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Symptons
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Sometimes no early symptoms, or may be a sore as small as a zit. |
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Stage 1 (10-60 Days After Exposure) |
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Hard painless sores on the genitals, rectum, tongue, lips, or mouth appear, then disappear in 1.6 weeks, as it silently spreads to stage two. It is highly infectious in this stage. |
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Stage 2 (1 Week To 6 Months After Exposure) |
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May appear as a body rash especially prevalent on the palms of the hands and soles of feet. |
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Swollen lymph glands in the groin. |
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Flu-like symptoms, such as sore throat, headache and fever. |
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Soreness, aching and swelling joints. |
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Stage 3 (a number of years after exposure. |
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Heart and vascular disease. |
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Mental deterioration such as dementia. |
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Paralysis. |
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Blindness. |
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Death. |
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Diagnosis
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Blood test. |
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Treatment
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Penicillin or other antibiotic. Do not have sex until cured. Untreated the symptoms may disappear only to return at a later date, possibly even years later. |
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Warnings
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Untreated, syphilis stays hidden in your body. A sexually active person needs to be checked and treated for any sore around the mouth or genitals. If infected, all sexual contacts must be notified for testing and treatment, even if they have no symptoms. Congenital syphilis, in which the infected mother passes syphilis on to the unborn child, has been on the increase in recent years. |
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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by contracting a spiral-shaped spirochete bacterium, treponema pallidum. Syphilis is at its highest level in 40 years due to drug abuse and unprotected sex. A dramatic increase has also been experienced among adolescents. Once in the body, this bacterium enters the bloodstream and vital organs. The open sores that are left make it easier for HIV and other STDs to attack the body.
