Syphilis is sometimes called "pox" or "bad blood". It is caused by a specific bacterium. Left untreated, syphilis is one of the most serious sexually transmitted diseases, leading to heart failure, blindness, insanity or death. Syphilis can progress slowly through 3 stages over a period of many years. When detected early, however, syphilis can be cured.
Signs and Symptoms
Primary Stage Symptoms
A large, painless, sore known as a chancre occurs 2 to 6 weeks after infection and
generally appears around the area of sexual contact. The chancre disappears within a few
weeks.
Secondary Stage Symptoms
Within a month after the end of the primary stage, a widespread skin rash
may appear, cropping up on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes around
the mouth and nose. The rash commonly has small, red, scaly bumps that do not itch. Other
types of rashes, swollen lymph nodes, fever, and flu-like symptoms may also occur and
small patches of hair may fall out of the scalp, beard, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
Latent Stage Symptoms
Once syphilis reaches this stage, it may go unnoticed for years, quietly
damaging the heart, central nervous system, muscles, and various other organs and tissues.
The resulting effects are often fatal.
Treatment
If you've been exposed to syphilis or have its symptoms, see a doctor or
consult your county health department. For syphilis in its early stages, treatment
consists of penicillin. If the disease has progressed further, you'll require 3
consecutive weekly injections. (If you're allergic to penicillin, you'll receive an
alternative antibiotic taken orally for 2-4 weeks.) You should have a blood test 3, 6 and
12 months after treatment to be sure the disease is completely cured.
Once treatment is complete, you're no longer contagious. You can get syphilis again if you have sexual contact with an infected partner.
Do you have a large, painless ulcer-like sore (chancre) in the
genital area, anus, or mouth? |
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| Did you have such a sore 6 or more weeks ago that healed, but now
experience flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, general ill-feeling) and/or a skin rash of
small, red, scaly bumps that do not itch? |
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| Are you suspicious of having contracted syphilis or another
sexually transmitted disease from someone you suspect may be infected? |
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Do you want to rule out the presence of syphilis or other sexually
transmitted diseases for any of these reasons: Because you or your sex partner
have had multiple sex partners Because you are considering a new sexual
relationship Because you are planning to get married or
pregnant For peace of mind |
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HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 02/01/99