Health Services
Self Care

Syphilis

Description
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a spirochete bacterium. Syphilis is transmitted via intimate physical contact with infected parts of the body such as the sex organs, mouth, and rectum. Syphilis can be passed to subsequent sex partners during the first two years after the disease is contracted. After two years, the disease is unlikely to be transmissible to sex partners but can be passed from a woman to her unborn child.

Symptoms
The first sign of syphilis infection, the primary stage, is usually a small painless sore at the site where the spirochete entered the body. This sore, called a chancre, appears two to six weeks after exposure and disappears spontaneously. Early symptoms may be either absent or so slight that they may go unnoticed. Some people learn they are infected with syphilis through a blood test.

The secondary stage of syphilis may also go unnoticed by the infected person. Secondary symptoms appear two to six months after exposure to the disease and, like primary symptoms, will disappear without medical treatment. These symptoms include a body rash (characteristically on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet), sores in the mouth, sore throat, falling or patchy hair, fever and swollen lymph nodes.

In the latent stage, patients are without clinical signs of infection. Signs of late or final stages of syphilis appear four to six years after initial contact. Heart disease, blindness, deafness, skin lesions, paralysis and central nervous system degeneration may develop.

Diagnosis of syphilis is difficult because the disease can affect various parts of the body, and because the symptoms are so similar to many other diseases. Anyone who develops a sore on the sexual organs or around the anus should seek immediate medical attention since diagnosis in primary stage is most accurate. Microscopic examination of fluid from the sore can detect the presence of spirochete organisms. Blood tests are also used to detect the disease when other symptoms are absent or questionable.

Treatment
Antibiotics are used to treat syphilis. Proper treatment in the early stages can completely cure the disease. Treatment during the advanced stages will stop progress of the disease but cannot repair damage already done.

Prevention
Avoid intimate contact with anyone who has a sexually transmissible disease. Latex condoms can be used for more complete protection against non-genital syphilis sores.

There is virtually no risk of a sexually transmitted infection in a mutually monogamous relationship between two uninfected partners. If you are not in a mutually monogamous relationship, limiting your number of sexual partners and avoiding partners who have had many sexual partners in the past will reduce your risk of infection. If you have multiple sexual partners, have a blood test for syphilis on a regular basis.

Latex and synthetic condoms are the best way to reduce the transmission of any sexually transmitted disease during intercourse and fellatio. However, sexual abstinence is a 100% effective method for preventing syphilis or any other sexually transmitted disease.

More Information/Questions
For more information, Messiah students may call the Health Center at 691-6035.