This is a highly contagious disease that’s mostly spread through se-xu-al activities, including oral and anal s-e-x. The worst part of this infection is that the infected person often isn’t aware that they have the disease and passes it on to their se-xu-al partner unknowingly. This disease can cause serious long-term problems such as arthritis, brain damage, and blindness.
However, here below are the causes, symptoms, and treatments of Syphilis according to WebMD;
Syphilis Causes
It is caused by the bacteria known as “Treponema pallidum.” One can get infected through direct contact with a person having syphilis sore on them. This usually occurs during se-xu-al activity, also the bacteria can get into your body through cuts on your skin or through your mucous membranes.
People who are at higher risk of getting syphilis if you:
1. Have multiple inter-course partners
2. Having unprotected inter-course
3. A person living with HIV
4. A man who has s-e-x with men
Syphilis Symptoms
Syphilis infection has three stages:
Primary or Early Stage
An infected person with primary syphilis gets one or more sores called chancres. They are often in the form of small, painless ulcers. They occur in the genitals, anus or rectum, or in or around the mouth between 10 and 90 days (3 weeks on average) after the person must have been exposed to the disease. Even when left untreated, they heal without a scar within 6 weeks. However, taking medication or treatments will keep your disease from moving to the next stage.
Secondary Stage
This stage begins 6 weeks to 6 months after a person has been exposed to the disease, and it may last for about 1 to 3 months. People with secondary syphilis often get a rosy “copper penny” i.e., rash on the palms of their hands and soles of their feet. They may also have different rashes on other parts of their body.
Some persons may also experience moist wart-like lesions in their groin, white patches on the inside of their mouth, fever, swollen lymph glands, hair loss and even weight loss. Furthermore, just like the primary syphilis stage, symptoms of the secondary syphilis stage will get better without treatment.
Tertiary Syphilis Stage
If the infection or disease is left untreated, it may move on to a stage marked by severe problems with your heart, brain, and nerves. At this stage, the affected person could become paralyzed, blind, or deaf, get dementia or even become impotence. It can even be very deadly as well.
Other types of syphilis include:
1. Latent syphilis. The infection doesn’t have any obvious symptoms but is still in the body.
2. Congenital syphilis. Pregnant women infected with the disease can spread it to their babies. This can cause further harm to the baby and even cause death in some cases.
3. Neurosyphilis. This infection can spread to your brain or spinal cord. You might start to experience headaches, dementia, numbness or become paralyzed. You could also experience a hard time controlling your muscles.
Syphilis Treatment
Syphilis is curable with quick diagnosis and treatment when detected early to avoid damage to the body. If you have had syphilis for less than a year, one dose of penicillin is usually enough to kill the infection. On the other hand, If you are allergic to penicillin, you might get another antibiotic instead, for example, doxycycline.
If you are in a later stage of the disease, you will need more doses to fight and cure it. For pregnant women who are allergic to penicillin, your doctor will probably have you undergo a process called desensitization, which will let you take the drug safely.
Advice: Avoid any form of se-xu-al contact until the infection is completely gone. Your partners should also be tested and, if necessary, treated.
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