Syphilis

Many types of diseases spread in humans due to skin-to-skin contact or mucous membrane contacts. Syphilis is one of these types of skin disease that occur in the genital areas, rectum or mouth and this occurs in humans due to bacterial infection and/or spreads by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Syphilis is a disease that can remain inactive in the human body for years before its activation. Though, in the early stages of syphilis, it is easily cured if detected. A single shot of penicillin injection is sometimes sufficient if identified at an early stage. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that starts with painless sores on the genitals, rectum or mouth. In general, when it occurs on genitals, it spreads through sexual contact. If identified and ignored to cure, it can affect, severely, heart, brain or other body parts and sometimes it becomes threatening to life also.

Causes of Syphilis

The primary cause of the spread of syphilis disease is due to sexual activity, including oral, vaginal or anal sex with the infected person. Sex with multiple partners can also cause this disease. The bacterium, known as Treponema pallidum, is transmitted in the body through small cuts or abrasions in the skin and/or mucous membranes. A well-known fact is that this bacterium does not survive alone and can destroy in few days. It needs a host and humans are such types of hosts who carry and transmit it to others through their different acts.

Though it spreads through the mouth to mouth kissing with the infected person it is less common in nature. It can pass from the mothers to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth. Syphilis is a contagious disease in its initial or primary and secondary stages. It can evade or destroy the immune system of the body which further helps to spread in the body. It does spread by using or sharing the belongings of the infected person like towels, clothing, beddings, soaps, combs, etc. Also, it does not spread by using the same toilet, bathtub, swimming pool or eating utensils.

The disease can spread through the blood donation by the infected person but the occurrence of this is very low as after donation of the blood, the blood is screened by the number of tests and after that, it is used to give to the needy patient. A good factor of this disease is that it does not come on its own once cured.

Syphilis leads from short term illness to serious long-term problems like arthritis, heart and brain damage and even blindness. Without treatment of syphilis can lead to the risk of HIV/AIDS infection.

Symptoms of Syphilis

The symptoms of this disease vary from its developmental stage to its advanced stages. There are four stages of symptoms of this disease, namely, primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. In the primary stage, a painless sore develops on the genital area which is termed as a chancre. Though chancre does not appear instantly after having sexual relationships with the infected person it takes two to three weeks after doing the act. Its painless development inside and hidden parts of the vagina or rectum; do not get any feeling from the infected person. Sometimes the chancre heals itself due to anti-bodies and disappears in three to six weeks. There are 30% to 60% chances of occurring of the disease if the person infected is not treated properly in the primary or secondary stage.

If chancre does not get healed, it goes to the secondary stage. In this stage, rashes start on the trunk, palms and then the entire body. In this stage, some people also experience hair loss, sore throat, body ache and swollen lymph nodes. When at this stage, if this disease does not get any treatment, it moves to the third stage which is the Latent stage. This latent stage, known also as the hidden stage, can last for years with no signs or symptoms of the disease in the patient.

If the symptoms of the secondary stage are still there and become severe with time, this disease moves to its fourth stage which is the tertiary stage. In this stage, illness becomes severe and can affect the patient’s brain, eyes, heart, liver, blood vessels, bones and joints badly. In this stage, a patient may become blind or some neurological disorders may develop. Bumps can also be visible on the skin or any other part of the body. These bumps can be disappeared using antibiotics during the treatment of the disease.

Syphilis Treatment

Syphilis is a kind of STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) therefore to prevent the disease to occur, it is necessary to use protection during sex and one type of such protection is the use of latex condoms. Another best option is monogamous sex. Use only one partner to perform sexual activities so that neither partner will be infected if both have no previous infection of this disease. Condom is a good choice to reduce the chances of infections if it covers the sores properly. Misuse of drugs and alcohol can lead to unsafe sex and can lead to the occurrence of this disease. There is no vaccine to date for this disease. So precautions are the best prevention from this.

The treatment of this disease for all stages is the use of penicillin injection. The doses of this injection depend on the seriousness of the disease. If some are allergic to the penicillin, treating doctor can suggest other antibiotics or can give penicillin with desensitization.

FAQs on Syphilis

Q.1: How the syphilis disease can occur?

Answer: Syphilis is a contagious bacterial disease and spread by doing unsafe sexual contact with affected people. This can also occur due to kissing mouth to mouth with the infected person. This disease can also transfer to the child from his/her mother.

Q.2: How syphilis can be treated? Please provide some names of medicines that are in use for the treatment.

Answer: Treatment of syphilis can start once it comes to the notice whether in the primary stage or secondary stage. Penicillin injection is useful to treat this disease in the early stages of infection but this can affect childbirth and can create a risk. The pregnant women shall avoid treatment with the penicillin injection.

Antibiotics are the only treatment available nowadays. Treatment for other stages of the disease, like neurosyphilis or tertiary stage, with penicillin injections (different variants), can be a boon but this treatment is done to stop spreading or limiting the disease and treating the infection. There is no home remedies are available for the treatment and no over-the-counter treatment is recommended. It is very much recommended to take intravenous Benzathine penicillin G under the supervision of a specialist.

Q.3: Is there any vaccine available for the cure of syphilis?

Answer: No, there is no such vaccine is, currently, available for the treatment of syphilis. But it is better to take precautions during sexual contact with an infected person by using latex condoms. If you have some symptoms of this disease, you should take care of others (sex partners) including your current partner and other partners to whom you have sexual encounters in the last three months by informing them and forcing them to get tested for the same.