Syphilis

How is it passed?
It is passed through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex, by sharing sex toys, direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has syphilis sores or rashes, or from a mother to her unborn child.

What are the symptoms?
Primary Stage
Ten to ninety days after sex (usually 21 days) a painless single sore appears in the area where contact was made. The sore, called a chancre, usually feels hard at the edges. It does not hurt. The sore is full of germs. After 2 to 6 weeks, the sore goes away.

Secondary Stage
Six to eight weeks later, the secondary stage begins and lasts from 2 weeks to 6 months. Symptoms include swelling of lymph nodes, rashes, and a flu-like feeling. There may be sores on the hands or feet that look like flat, grayish warts, or white with red borders. The sores can spread the disease. After a couple of weeks, the sores disappear. At this point, serious damage that can’t be seen or felt affects the heart, nervous system, kidneys, eyes and brain.

Latent Stage
There may be no visible signs during the slow latent stage. While the disease is not usually spread during this period, silent damage goes on until treatment or death.

Tests and Treatment
There are blood tests to detect the bacteria that cause syphilis. The sores can also be tested. If you have had sex with a person who has syphilis you must be treated right away. Tests are usually repeated, and everyone treated for syphilis must return for tests.

There is a cure for syphilis. Penicillin is the drug of choice and is given by injection. Other antibiotics are also available if you are allergic to penicillin. The antibiotics can be given at any stage to prevent further damage. After you have been cured you can get syphilis again if you have sex with an infected person.

Women and Babies
Moms are tested for syphilis and other STDs during their prenatal care. Both mom and baby can be treated and cured during pregnancy.