What Is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. It can affect nearly any part of the body, including the genitals, skin, heart, bones and nervous system. Since the discovery of penicillin in the 1940s, the incidence of syphilis has declined tremendously. However, syphilis continues to occur in the United States, particularly among gay and bisexual men.
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Time Frame
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Syphilis is divided into three distinct symptomatic stages and one stage that is usually asymptomatic. Symptoms of primary syphilis appear between 10 days and 3 months after exposure. Secondary syphilis occurs 2 to 10 weeks later. In some people, a latest phase follows secondary syphilis and they may have no signs of infection for years or decades. Eventually, the disease's end stage--tertiary syphilis--becomes evident.
Effects
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Primary syphilis causes a painless sore or sores to appear at the site of infection. This is typically on the genitals, but chancres may also form on the hands, mouth or anus. Secondary syphilis causes a widespread rash with red lesions about the size of pennies. Fever and fatigue may accompany this rash. Tertiary syphilis may affect many different parts of the body, and can cause damage to the heart, personality changes, cognitive decline and growths called gummas. Gummas frequently affect the bones of the face and may disfigure the infected person.
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Identification
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Syphilis is usually diagnosed through routine blood testing to check for the presence of antibodies that are present after infection with Treponema pallidum. The test gives false positive results fairly often; therefore, a positive result must be verified by more specific tests before a diagnosis of syphilis is made. It is also possible to test for syphilis by taking a sample of exudate from a chancre.
Warning
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Syphilis is a life-threatening disease and is very likely to be transmitted to others during sexual activity. It is not uncommon for an infected person to pass through the primary and secondary stages without realizing he has syphilis. Chancres often go unnoticed because they are painless and the rash that accompanies secondary syphilis is not often associated with a sexually transmitted disease. As a result, many people are not diagnosed with syphilis until the tertiary stage, when permanent damage to the body takes place and others are likely to have already been infected. Routine testing for syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases should always be performed before engaging in sexual activities with a new partner.
Prevention/Solution
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Consistent use of condoms greatly reduces the chance of acquiring syphilis but does not prevent it entirely, since syphilis may be transmitted through sexual contact other than intercourse. The most effective way to avoid syphilis infection is to always use condoms, limit sexual partners, and undergo frequent screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Syphilis is completely curable if detected before the tertiary stage. Treatment consists of antibiotics, usually given as one or more injections. In the tertiary stage, the pathogen responsible can be eliminated, halting further progression. However, damage to the body done by syphilis cannot be reversed.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Treponema pallidum. Photo by Bill Schwartz/CDC
