STDS/STIS

Syphilis

Description

Syphilis is a T. Pallidum bacteria that is spiral shaped and undergoes mitosis (splits in two) once ever 24 hours. You will go through several stages and symptoms will vary from person to person.

Symptoms

STAGE 1

Syphilis starts with a lesion or chancre that forms near the genital region. Half of the time this will appear to be be a dark pink color with a red ring surrounding it. Further it will not bleed unless you pick at it a lot. Still the appearance and number of chancres can vary from case-to-case and the lesion may heal up without treatment. If that happens it has moved onto the next stage. So always have a doctor look at any lesion you discover on your body, especially if the lesion is located near or on your genitals.

STAGE 2

Once it moves on to stage two you will see new lesions, feel like you have a sore throat and suffer from low fever, headaches, and a rashes. Any new lesions will probably form on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. However, it is possible for them to form in other areas as well. The appearance and location of the rash is variable; it does not itch and is not uncomfortable. If still left untreated, the secondary lesions will heal and all other symptoms will disappear; this indicates that the disease has evolved into latent syphilis.

STAGE 3

Stage three or Latent syphilis usually begins to effect you between 6 months and 2 years after your initial infection. Some people experience more stage 2 symptoms while others will experience no symptoms at all. Stage 3 or Latent syphilis may stay with you for life if untreated or it may progress to stage 4 "late" syplilis.

STAGE 4

Late syphilis may show up after 2 or more years have passed since your initial infection. Doctors estimate 35% of infected people who go untreated will move into stage 4 or "late" syphilis. This final stage of syphilis may effect you in several ways including being benign syphilis, cardio-vascular syphilis and/or neuro-syphilitic disease. You may have one or more of these forms of syphilis, however most of the carriers of syphilis who do not seek treatment will never move into the stage 4 and simple infect others without knowing.

Benign Syphilis

Normally this apears 3 to 7 years after your first infection. You will develop gummas which are basically a harmful ulcer on or in your bodies organs. These organs are most commonly the skin, liver, digestive tract, muscles, eyes and endocrine organs. It is called "benign" because theulcers rarely cause death and if properly treated by a doctor, the gummas will heal and the patient will recover fully.

Cardio-vascular Syphilis

This is a very rare form of syphilis, affecting about 10% of all untreated carriers. It normally will develop 10 to 40 years after your initial exposure to the virus and will damage the heart and major blood vessels which is why it is normally fatal.

Neuro-syphilitic Disease

Less than 10% of all untreated subjects will be affected by neuro-syphilitic disease. This form of shyphis will effect your central nervous system and can cause a wide variety of problems that if untreated can be fatal. Further damage to you nervous system, may or may not be treatable depending upon the damage done.

 

Transmission

Syphilis is transmitted during any skin to skin contact. The bacteria will enter the body by penetrating the mucous membranes or any small cracks in the skin. Pregnant women who contract syphilis can infect their fetus, so it is best to deal with this infection quickly. Syphilis will not survive long outside of the body meaning indirect transmission of the disease is uncommon.

Treatment

Syphilis is treated with prescription antibiotics such as penicillin. As always talk to your physician about what treatment is right for you.