What is Syphilis? STD Spotlight

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease passed from person to person through a syphilis sore called a chancre. Sores can occur on the lips, in the mouth, external genitals, vagina, anus or rectum. These chancres can be hidden from view due to the location.

What are the symptoms?

Some people remain non-symptomatic for years. However, there are three distinct stages: primary, secondary and latent.

In the primary stage, the appearance of one or more chancre will occur. The chancre is painless, round in shape, firm in texture, and small in appearance. The sore lasts between three to six weeks. Without treatment, syphilis continues to the secondary stage.

There are more symptoms in the secondary stage. This stage is marked by rashes and lesions, as well as, fatigue, weight loss, head aches, hair loss, sore throat and fever. The rash may appear on the hands and bottom of the feet as a rough, reddish brown spots.

In the latent stage, symptoms are not present, yet infection remains in the body. During the last stage of syphilis, damage may be found in the heart, brain, liver, eyes, blood vessels, nerves, bones, and joints. Due to the damage to these areas of the body, individuals can experience dementia, blindness, paralysis, and death.

How is syphilis diagnosed?

Syphilis can be detected by a blood test or by examining material gathered from a chancre.

How is syphilis treated?

If an individual has had syphilis for less than a year, a single injection of penicillin is the treatment. For individuals that have had syphilis for longer than one year, additional doses are required. Other antibiotics will treat syphilis for individuals allergic to penicillin.

What prevents the transmission of syphilis?

To prevent syphilis, either abstain from sexual contact or maintain a monogamous relationship with a partner who has tested negative for syphilis. Proper use of condoms can reduce the risk of syphilis. However, condoms that are treated with Nonoxynol-9 (N-9) are not recommended for preventing STDs. Likewise, individuals undergoing treatment for syphilis should abstain from sexual contact until all chancres are healed.

Are HIV and syphilis linked?

According to the CDC “there is an estimated two to five fold increased risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to that infection when syphilis is present.” The transmission of HIV is made easier by the chancres caused by syphilis.

Are there additional risks for pregnant women and their babies?
Syphilis carries many risks for babies. The syphilis can infect the baby causing stillbirth or having a baby that dies shortly after birth. Infants can be treated immediately after birth; however delaying treatment many cause seizures, developmental issues, or death. Since the health risks to infant are serious, pregnant women should be tested for syphilis.

This information was adpated from CDC Fact Sheet: Syphilis