Syphilis, a bacterial infection brought on by the Treponema Pallidum bacterium, is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) which is hard to discern from other STD’s simply because syphilis warning signs act like those of other STD’s. Due to this, syphilis is oftentimes referred to as “the great imitator”.
Syphilis may be asymptomatic for several years. But individuals infected are at risk for later complications if not treated. The majority of people contract syphilis from a person who does not even know they may be infected.
How does one get Syphilis?
Syphilis passes by direct exposure to a syphilis blister from one person to another. A syphilis blister could be located on the vagina, external genitals, rectum or anus. Sometimes, the sores may be found in the mouth or on the lips. Syphilis is transmitted through oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Infected women who are pregnant might pass syphilis to their baby. You can not contract syphilis from casual contact (i.e. a toilet seat).
Syphilis Testing
The Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) blood test detects antibodies to the Syphilis bacterium.
Syphilis Symptoms
Syphilis has three stages; primary, secondary and late.
Primary Stage
During the syphilis primary stage, an individual sore, or chancre appears. The chancre can be round, small, firm, and painless. It appears at the area where syphilis accessed a person’s body. After three to six weeks, the chancre heals without any treatment. However, if treatment is not given, the infection enters the secondary stage.
Secondary Stage
The syphilis secondary stage displays a skin rash and mucous membrane lesions. The stage begins with rash in one or several parts of the body. This rash can appear while, or several weeks after the chancre healing from the primary stage. The rash might appear on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet as rough, reddish brown, or red spots. But, other sorts of rashes that vary in appearance might appear elsewhere on the body. Secondary syphilis rashes are sometimes so faint, they go completely undetected. Some other signs or symptoms can include sore throat, weight loss, a fever, tiredness, enlarged lymph glands, and headache. Even though the signs and symptoms will reside with no treatment, if not treated, the syphilis infection will move on to the late stage of the disease.
Late Stage
The late stage starts when the secondary symptoms resolve. With no treatment, the infected individual will still have syphilis even though no symptoms are apparent. Syphilis, in the late stage, might damage internal organs such as the joints, bones, liver, heart, eyes, nerves, as well as the brain. It might be several years before the internal damage is discovered.
