Syphilis

Home

Sexually
Transmitted
Infections

    
Genital Warts
    Syphilis
    Gonorrhea
    Hepatitis B
    Chlamydia
    Bac. Vaginosis
    Herpes
    HIV
    UTI
    Other
    Pictures

    Condom
       Usage

Emergency
Contraception

Help Beyond
The Hedges

Health
Services

For Women

For Men

Questions

 

 

Syphilis infection occurs in 3 distinct stages. Early or primary syphilis infection can be mistaken for many other conditions. People with primary syphilis will develop one or more chancre sores. The sores resemble large round bug bites and are often hard and painless. They occur on the genitals or in or around the mouth somewhere between 10-90 days (average 3 weeks) after exposure. They heal without a scar within 6 weeks. The secondary stage may last 1-3 months and begins within 6 weeks to 6 months after exposure. People with secondary syphilis experience a rosy "copper penny" rash typically on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. They may also experience moist warts in the groin, white patches on the inside of the mouth, swollen lymph glands, fever, and weight loss. Latent syphilis is where the infection lies dormant (inactive) without causing symptoms. If the infection isn't treated, it may then progress to a stage called tertiary syphilis characterized by severe problems with the heart, brain, and nerves that can result in blindness, dementia, impotency, and even death if its not treated.
Penicillin is usually enough to destroy the infection. For those allergic to penicillin, tetracycline or doxycycline can be given instead.
Without treatment, syphilis can cause serious and permanent problems such as dementia, blindness, or death.

Links

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/108/27009
http://www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs/syphilis.html
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/SyphilisInfo.htm
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdsyph.htm