Syphilis, a bacterial infection caused by the Treponema Pallidum bacterium, is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is tough to recognize from other STD’s because syphilis symptoms act like those of other STD’s. Due to this, syphilis is oftentimes known as “the great imitator”.
Syphilis might be asymptomatic for years. But men and women infected are at risk for later problems if not taken care of. Most people contract syphilis from a person who doesn’t even know they’re infected.
How does one get Syphilis?
Syphilis passes by direct exposure to a syphilis sore from one individual to another. A syphilis blister could be located on the vagina, external genitals, rectum or anus. Sometimes, the sores are located in the mouth or on the lips. Syphilis is transmitted through oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Infected women who happen to be with child might pass syphilis to their newborn. You cannot contract syphilis from casual contact (i.e. a toilet seat).
Syphilis Testing
The Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) blood test picks up antibodies to the Syphilis bacterium.
Syphilis Symptoms
Syphilis has 3 stages; primary, secondary and late.
Primary Stage
During the syphilis primary stage, a single sore, or chancre shows up. The chancre might be round, small, firm, and painless. It appears in the area where syphilis accessed a person’s body. After three to six weeks, the chancre heals without any treatment. However, if treatment is not given, the infection enters the secondary stage.
Secondary Stage
The syphilis secondary stage exhibits a skin rash and mucous membrane lesions. The stage starts off with rash in one or many parts of the body. This rash can appear while, or several weeks following the chancre healing from the primary stage. The rash may appear on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet as rough, reddish brown, or red spots. But, other sorts of rashes that range in appearance may possibly turn up somewhere else on the body. Secondary syphilis rashes can be so faint, they go completely unnoticed. Other signs can include sore throat, weight loss, fever, fatigue, enlarged lymph glands, and head ache. Although the signs and symptoms can reside without treatment, if not treated, the syphilis infection will move on to the late stage of the disease.
Late Stage
The late stage starts when the secondary symptoms resolve. Without treatment, the infected man or woman will still have syphilis even though no symptoms are apparent. Syphilis, in the late stage, could damage internal organs such as the joints, bones, liver, heart, eyes, nerves, and even the brain. It may be several years before the internal damage is discovered.
