Known as 'the great imitator', since many signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from the symptoms of other diseases.
Symptoms
Syphilis develops in three stages:
- Stage 1 : Appearance of one or more painless reddish-brown sores also called chancres near or on the external genitals.
- Stage 2 : Skin rash appears anywhere on the body. There are flu-like symptoms like mild fever, sore throat and fatigue.
- Stage 3 : The last stage symptoms are mental illness, brain damage, heart disease, blindness and death.
How do you get Syphilis?
Syphilis is spread from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis chancre/sore. These sores are present on the external genitals, anus, vagina or in the rectum. Sores can also occur in the mouth and on the lips. Transmission of the germs occurs during oral, anal or vaginal sex. Pregnant infected with syphilis can pass it to their babies.
Syphilis does nor spread through direct contact with doorknobs, toilet seats, swimming pools, eating from utensils of infected persons, hot tubs, shared clothing or bath tubs.
Chancres (sores) caused by syphilis make it easier to contract and transmit HIV infection sexually. It is estimated that the risk of acquiring HIV infection when syphilis is present is increased 2 to 5-fold.
Treatment for Syphilis
- Syphilis can be easily cured in its early stages. A person who has had syphilis for less than a year can be cured with a single injection of penicillin, an antibiotic. Additional doses are required to treat individuals who has had syphilis for more than a year.
- Other antibiotics are available to treat syphilis, if the person is allergic to penicillin. Treatment will kill all the germs and prevent any further damage, but it cannot reverse the damage already done.
- Individuals receiving treatment fro syphilis must abstain from any sexual contact with new partners until the sores are completely healed.
- Individuals with syphilis must notify their sex partners in order to get them tested and treated if necessary.
What to do if you think you have Syphilis?
- If you think you have the symptoms mentioned, get yourself checked! This is not the time to be embarrassed as syphilis will not disappear on its own.
- There are many health departments in Australia with special clinics that treat STDs including syphilis. In case you don't know where to go, call your local family planning clinic for more information. No matter where you receive treatment, your case will be kept absolutely private.
- It's normal to feel embarrassed about having syphilis and it may be difficult to go to the doctor or the clinic. But it is necessary to get yourself treated event though it is the hardest thing to do. There is no other way to recover.
- Don't forget to inform your sexual partner. If they are not treated, they can also spread syphilis! And they might infect you again.