Studies have found that sexual interaction has several positive effects on a person’s health. It improves immunity, preserves heart health, and reduces blood pressure [1]. However, STDs or Sexually Transmitted Diseases go hand in hand as well.
Syphilis is a common STI that spreads through the direct contact of genital organs with the infected person. The condition is relatively common, and studies have concluded that it is the seventh most common STI in the USA. [8]
Syphilis Online Treatment is available and curable but can lead to serious health problems if neglected. This excerpt communicates all the essential information to help you timely screen and treat Syphilis.
How Does Syphilis Spread?
The disease begins with painless sores in the rectum, mouth, or genital organ, and direct contact with a Syphilis sore results in the infection spreading to the other person. [2]
Infection passing typically happens during a sexual interaction when the bacteria enter the body through the skin cuts or mucus membranes. The condition has three stages primary, secondary, and tertiary, and each stage has different symptoms. [3]
However, in the USA, the secondary, tertiary, and congenital stages of Syphilis are uncommon because of awareness and screening. [3]
Symptoms of Syphilis
Note that the symptoms of each phase are different. Also, it has been observed that the stages and the symptoms may overlap [2]. Therefore, as soon as you observe something unusual, get medical assistance.
1. Primary Syphilis
It is the first stage of the condition, and a sore called chancre appears in the mouth or genital organ after 2 to 12 weeks of the contraction. The sore is usually painless and heals away in a couple of weeks (typically three weeks). [4]
Note that this doesn’t mean that you don’t have the disease anymore. Leaving primary Syphilis untreated results in progression to the second stage called ‘secondary syphilis’. Most people contract the disease to their sex partners during the first stage as it is often undetectable. [2]
2. Secondary Syphilis
The second stage of the infection manifests in a rough Syphilis rash 1 to 6 months after the chancre (first sore) heals. These rashes appear on the entire body, including the palms’ insides and the feet’ soles. Sometimes, people also develop different-looking rashes, but the color is rose-copper without an itch. However, you will feel: [5]
- Nausea
- Muscle pain
- Headaches and hair thinning
- Fever
- Weight loss
Similar to the primary stage, the symptoms of the second stage last for a few weeks and may repeatedly occur for almost a year. [2]
3. Latent Syphilis
The infection becomes hidden or latent if the first two stages are not treated. There are no evident symptoms, and the disease remains within the body for years. Sometimes mild symptoms occur, but the infection cures and develops into the third stage. [4]
4. Tertiary Syphilis
It is the last stage of the condition and occurs years after the first exposure. Studies reveal that negligence of the prior stages leads about 14 to 40 patients to the tertiary stage of the infection. The last stage of the STI results in neurological damage, blindness, liver, blood vessels, and joint issues. [6]
Syphilis Diagnosis
If you think you are infected, see a doctor as soon as possible. Usually, doctors conduct a physical examination to determine whether the sore is present. If the sore is there, a sample is taken from it. Some other diagnoses include: [5]
- Darkfield Microscopy
Samples taken from lymph nodes or skin are observed under a microscope to evaluate the stage of the STI.
- Blood Tests
The doctor takes a blood sample to run the diagnostic tests.
- Spinal Tap or Lumbar Puncture
For people infected with tertiary Syphilis who are experiencing nervous issues, the sample is collected from the spinal cord (spinal tap) for conducting tests. [6]
How to Treat Syphilis?
Syphilis is treatable in all its stages. However, if the infection is diagnosed too late, it leaves unrecoverable damage to the patient’s heart and brain [4].
- Antibiotics are commonly used for curing Syphilis. In most cases, healthcare specialists prescribe doxycycline. However, in case of pregnancy and allergy to the antibiotic, doctors also prescribe penicillin.
- Your online health specialist may also have you undergo a desensitization treatment to ensure you can take the medication safely [5]. Early stages of Syphilis only require a single injected dose of penicillin. [2]
- Some patients also exhibit a reaction called Jarisch-Herxheimer after a couple of hours of the first treatment. It is not an allergic reaction but the immune system trying to break down the medication. The condition includes rashes, joint pains, fever, headaches, etc., but the issues go away in 24 hours or so. [5]
You must visit the doctor every three months (that makes four times a year) to ensure that the infection is gone. Since the disease spreads easily, avoid sexual interaction during the treatment. Also, get your partner tested to ensure a timely treatment if there is a contraction. [3]
How To Prevent Syphilis?
Prevention for Syphilis is necessary because the infection is undetectable in its early stages, and carelessness can lead to serious health problems.
- Ensure Protected Sex
Using condoms during sexual intercourse dramatically reduces the chance of infection.
- Reduce Sex Partners
Monogamous relationships with an infection-free person limit the condition’s risk.
- Get Screened
The infection has no intense symptoms, so it is best to get tested and ensure your partner is also tested.
- Avoid Sharing Sex Toys
Refrain from sharing sex toys with an infected person. Sometimes the infection contracts from sharing drug needles as well. [6]
- Refrain From Sexual Intercourse During Treatment
Having sex during the treatment result in virus propagation.
- Ensure Frequent Home Tests
Certain test kits available in the market allow you to conduct examinations for the infection at home. However, it is not a substitute for a medical expert [6].
Conclusion
Syphilis is an STI that often remains undiagnosed due to its silent symptoms. The infection spreads through sexual interaction and leads to several serious health issues. Therefore, it is essential to get screened for STDs to prevent further complications.
The risk of the infection can be limited by using protected sex and ensuring monogamous relationships. Getting screened regularly also reduces Syphilis-related issues.
FAQs
1. Which people are at risk for Syphilis?
Syphilis commonly occurs in sexually active individuals with HIV and multiple sex partners. Most cases of the disease occur in bisexuals. [7]
2. How long does the treatment take?
The duration of the medication depends on the time the bacteria reside in the body. One shot of penicillin is sufficient for an infection of less than a year. However, if you have had the disease for more than a year, the treatments take a couple of weeks.
3. Does Syphilis affect babies?
Syphilis causes severe anemia, bone damage, deafness, blindness, jaundice, and liver complications in babies. In some cases, it also leads to deaths.
4. Can Syphilis reoccur?
Yes, having unprotected sex with an infected person results in the issue’s reoccurrence.
References
[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316954#:~:text=Scientific%20research
%20has%20highlighted%20several,%2C%20and%20mental%20well%2Dbeing.
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/syphilis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351756
[3] https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/syphilis
[4] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4622-syphilis
[5] https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/syphilis
[6] https://www.healthline.com/health/std/syphilis#pregnancy
[7] https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-msm-syphilis.htm#:~:text=Most%20cases%20of%20syphilis%20in,MSM%2C%20for%20about%20two%20decades.
[8] https://www.verywellhealth.com/facts-about-syphilis-5442986#:~:text=Syphilis%20is%20the%20seventh%20most,in%20terms%20of%20new%20infections.