Syphilis Is Still Present Among Us

Syphilis is a famous sexually transmitted disease which still infects a large number of people and which seems to be on the rise.

 

There are numerous symptoms of syphilis. (jlp)

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Another name for syphilis is the 'great imitator', as a number of signs and symptoms of syphilis are also present in other, frequent diseases.

 

How does it spread?

 

Syphilis is a genital infection, transmitted by direct touch of the infected part of the skin with the part that isn't infected. It's transmitted by sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral or anal) and, in rare cases, by kissing. Some people still believe they can get infected by syphilis in a public toilet, swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna etc. Of course, they're completely wrong. However, an infected woman can spread the infection to her child during pregnancy or delivery (congenital syphilis).

 

There are several stages of syphilis, and the early stages are much easier to treat. (sl.wikipedia.org) 

What are the symptoms?

 

Some people do not show any signs of syphilis after several years of infection. However, not treating syphilis for a number of years can cause great health problems. The signs of primary syphilis are evident as changes in the form of ulcers on the skin called chancres, which appear within a few weeks after infection. There may be several such skin lesions. The time between the first syphilis infection and the first visible symptom is usually 21 days, while the time period for developing ulcers is already from 10 days to three month at the latest after infection. A hard ulcer is usually small, firm and painless. It appears at the site where syphilis was transmitted to the body. An ulcer is present at the site of infection from 3 to 6 weeks and it disappears by itself, without medications. If an ulcer appears and you receive no treatment for syphilis, the infection develops to the second stage.

 

Secondary syphilis

 

Secondary syphilis appears within 6 to 8 weeks, not later than within 6 months, after the untreated primary infection. It looks like a reddish-pink rash on the trunk and extremities, palms or soles. There are often large moist membranes on the body, which are highly contagious. Rashes normally don't itch. Other rashes can also appear on the body. They can appear at the site where an ulcer was present, and they can be very pale, almost invisible. Rashes are very similar to the symptoms of other diseases. Along with the contagious rashes, the symptoms of secondary syphilis are also enlarged lymph nodes, fever, hair loss, weight loss, headaches and muscle pain. If the symptoms and signs of secondary syphilis aren't medically treated, syphilis develops into hidden or latent syphilis.

 

Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Oscar Wilde, Vincent van Gogh and many other famous people suffered from syphilis. (www.telemeds.org)

Latent (hidden) syphilis

 

The latent or hidden syphilis infection starts when all the symptoms of primary and secondary syphilis are gone. Without treatment, although the symptoms are disappearing, the syphilis infection remains in the body. Latent syphilis can last for several years. It appears in approximately 15% of people who didn't receive treatment. It appears within 10 to 20 years after the infection. Latent syphilis attacks internal organs, the brain, the nervous system, the circulatory system, the heart, liver, bones and joints ... The signs and symptoms of latent syphilis are indicated by difficult coordination of the muscles, paralysis, blindness, dementia etc. Latent syphilis can thus be fatal.

 

When syphilis is left untreated, it can be fatal (www.telemeds.org)

How is syphilis diagnosed?

 

Physicians detect syphilis by taking tissue from an ulcer. It can also be detected by taking a blood sample in the early stage of the infection.

 

It's wrong to assume that syphilis belongs to the past. (jlp)

The treatment of syphilis

 

Syphilis in the early stage of infection is easy to treat. Only one injection of penicillin in muscle tissue is required to treat the person who has been infected with syphilis for less than a year. Infections which last longer require a higher dosage of penicillin. People who were infected and later treated have to abstain from any sexual intercourse with their new partners until syphilis completely disappears from their body.

 

How to prevent a syphilis infection?

 

The best method for preventing an infection with sexually transmitted diseases is abstinence or a long-term, monogamous relationship with a partner who has no sexually transmitted diseases.

 

Penicillin seems to work miracles. (jlp)

 

You can be infected with syphilis despite the use of condom, as it spreads through the skin. A condom reduces chances for syphilis infection only if the infected site is properly covered with latex.

 

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