Syphilis Treatment Centers
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, that is passed from person to person during sexual activity, much like herpes, hepatitis or HIV. Syphilis can only be diagnosed and treated by a trained physician, and specialized treatment centers exist where infected people can get help.
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STD Treatment Center
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An STD treatment center, sometimes called an STD clinic, is a medical office staffed by doctors and nurses who specialize in the treatment and diagnosis of STDs, including syphilis. Because STDs are a serious public health problem, many large cities have free STD treatment clinics that are open to anyone who needs help.
Who Visits?
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The people who seek treatment at STD clinics include minors who wish to be treated without parental consent, people who want to be diagnosed and treated anonymously, those without a regular doctor they can visit and those who cannot afford treatment due to lack of health insurance or other financial reasons.
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What to Expect
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When you arrive at the treatment center, you will be asked to fill out forms asking for personal information. You should provide as much detailed information as possible, especially about why you need to be tested or treated for syphilis. A doctor will examine you, conduct tests if necessary and determine the appropriate treatment.
Treatment
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There are no home remedies or over-the-counter medications that can treat syphilis; only drugs given by a doctor in a clinic can help. For someone who has had syphilis for less than one year, a single injection of penicillin or a similar antibiotic can be sufficient to cure the disease. Multiple injections over a period of time may be necessary for patients with more serious cases.
More Than One Visit
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Treatment for syphilis will likely require several visits to the STD clinic. At each visit, a doctor will measure the level of syphilis bacteria in the blood until it drops to 0, indicating that the treatment has killed all the bacteria and has stopped the syphilis from progressing. However, treatment cannot reverse any internal damage already done by the disease, and continued care may be necessary. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is essential for an infected person.
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