What are the Symptoms and Treatments for Syphilis?
December 8, 2020 Lifestyle Diseases 827 ViewsSyphilis
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is caused by Treponema pallidum. This infection spreads through sexual contact and is also called infectious disease. Usually, this infection can begin as a painless sore in the mouth, sexual organs, or rectum. However, using latex condoms during sexual intercourse can prevent syphilis infection. Syphilis often begins after bacteria enter your body. Apart from this, having sexual intercourse with an infected person can spread the bacteria into your body. Touching the door and table by an infected person does not spread this infection. Although this infection has different stages, which can be cured by timely treatment. In many cases, painless blisters resolve on their own, and treatment is not required. But the infection may remain inactive in the body, so it is better to get the treatment done. Usually, treatment prevents the infection from recurring but exposure to excessive bacteria can increase the chances of recurrence. This infection can affect the unborn child of a pregnant woman. So do not have intercourse if infected, but it is necessary to get proper treatment. In today’s article, we will explain in detail about the causes symptoms and treatments of syphilis.
- Stages of Syphilis
- What are the Causes of Syphilis?
- What are the Symptoms of Syphilis?
- What are the Treatments for Syphilis?
Stages of Syphilis
There are four stages of syphilis. Syphilis is most infectious in the first and second stages and does not show symptoms. It can be fatal in the third phase. Let us explain in detail.
- Primary Syphilis – This is the first stage of syphilis in which the infection appears as a small circle. This sore gives pain and discomfort and appears on the part from where the bacteria entered the body. Besides this, it appears on or inside the mouth, genitals, or rectum. These sores remain for two to six weeks. Syphilis sores spread through direct sexual contact.
- Secondary Syphilis – This is the second stage of syphilis. Skin rashes and sore throat may develop at this stage. The rash does not itch and mostly occur on the palms and soles. However, in some people, rashes go away on their own.
- Latent Syphilis – This is the hidden phase of syphilis. The primary and secondary symptoms start disappearing; however, the bacteria remain in the body. This stage can last for several years.
- Tertiary Syphilis – This is the last stage of infection. 15 to 20% of people who do not receive treatment on time enter this stage. It may take one to ten years to reach the third stage after the initial infection.
What are the Causes of Syphilis?
Pallidum bacteria spread from one person to another through sexual contact. Because of this, the infection causes syphilis. Bacteria can also enter the body through cuts or scratches on the skin or through the mucous membrane. Syphilis is most contagious during the primary and secondary stages. This infection can also affect an unborn baby in a pregnant woman. Syphilis infection does not spread by touching the door handle or sharing the toilet seat. Once cured, there are fewer chances of recurrence of syphilis, but it can reoccur upon direct contact with an infected person.(Read more: Sexually Transmitted Disease)
What are the Symptoms of Syphilis?
Symptoms of syphilis appear depending on the stage.
- In primary syphilis, small and painless sores develop on the skin.
- Secondary syphilis includes fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, wart-like sores on the mouth, anus, or genitals, muscle aches, etc.
- In the latent phase of syphilis may last for several years. There are no noticeable symptoms, but infection remains in the body.
- Tertiary syphilis shows symptoms such as deafness, blindness, mental illness, heart disease, infection of the spinal cord, nerve-related disorders, destruction of soft tissue, etc.
What are the Treatments for Syphilis?
Early diagnosis and treatments of Syphilis are necessary in the primary and secondary stages of syphilis. The principal treatment at this stage is penicillin that acts as an antibiotic medicine. If a person is allergic to penicillin, then some other antibiotics are prescribed.
- If you have had syphilis for less than a year, one dose of penicillin is enough to kill the bacteria. If you have had it for more than a year, then more doses of penicillin are required.
- Penicillin treatment is prescribed to a pregnant woman affected by syphilis. Women who are allergic to penicillin may undergo a process called desensitization. Newborn babies are given antibiotics to protected them from syphilis.
If you want more information and treatments of Syphilis, then you can contact the Infectious Disease Doctor.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication and treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you good advice because no one else is better than them.
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