Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema Pallidum. It is known as a silent and very serious disease, as it may only show symptoms in its advanced stages, causing serious and irreversible damage and can even lead to death1.
Modes of Transmission
In addition to being transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, syphilis can also be passed on through blood transfusions or direct contact with contaminated blood2. But don’t be alarmed—the good news is that if diagnosed at the very first stage, it’s possible to start a simple treatment that can eliminate the bacteria before it causes any serious health damage.
Congenital syphilis, from mother to child, can be transmitted during pregnancy or at birth, so it’s important to follow prenatal care correctly to reduce the risks both for the mother and the baby.
Main Symptoms of Syphilis
Syphilis, also known as Hard Chancre, is infectious and progresses slowly and can remain in the infected person’s body for years without showing any clinical symptoms.
Because it has a chronic development, the disease occurs in four stages: Primary syphilis, secondary, latent and tertiary. It is only contagious in the first two stages and very rarely in the latent stage. It can also be congenital, the infected mother can transmit the bacteria to her child during pregnancy or childbirth.
Generally transmitted through sexual intercourse, the bacteria enter the body via any small cut present in the mucous membranes or skin. The symptoms of syphilis vary greatly depending on the stage of the disease, and in many cases, it may not show any symptoms at all. Many people only discover they are infected decades after contracting the disease.
Primary Syphilis
This is the first stage of the disease, which begins about two to three weeks after contagion.
Symptoms – In this phase, sores develop at the site of infection and do not cause pain. The challenge at this stage is noticing these sores, since they can appear in places such as the cervix or anus.
A few weeks later, these sores may simply disappear even with no treatment or medication. But this does not mean it is cured. The Treponema Pallidum bacteria remain in the body, even if inactive, and reappear with other clinical manifestations at a more advanced stage.
Secondary Syphilis
Approximately 8 weeks after the first sores appear, the second stage of syphilis begins. Usually, the disease progresses to this stage because there was no treatment. Just as in the primary phase, the bacteria may become inactive again.
Symptoms in this stage are more noticeable, but you need to pay attention because they can look very similar to symptoms of other diseases and can once again go unnoticed.
Symptoms: At this stage, the patient may experience symptoms very similar to the flu: fever, sore throat, and muscle aches. It’s also common to see redness on the skin and swollen lymph nodes, especially in the genital area.
Latent Syphilis
At this stage, syphilis can remain inactive in the infected person’s body for a long time without causing any reaction or symptom. It may even stay in this stage permanently, never progressing to the last and most severe stage, tertiary syphilis.
Tertiary Syphilis
This is the last stage of the disease and certainly the most severe, which can cause irreversible damage to the body, especially to the nervous system, and can even lead to death of the infected person.
Considering that the patient may have reached this stage without even knowing they have syphilis, it’s likely that no treatment was started and the disease has progressed to a much more concerning level.
Symptoms:
Organs such as the heart, brain, liver, nerves, joints, bones and many others can be damaged by the syphilis bacteria. Heart and nerve problems, dementia, paralysis, blindness, and in the most serious cases, total organ failure.
Congenital Syphilis
In congenital syphilis, the mother infected with Treponema Pallidum transmits syphilis to the baby during pregnancy or at the time of delivery. The vast majority of babies diagnosed with the disease show no symptoms. However, in some cases, newborns will present with cracks in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which may later develop into more serious health problems.
So if you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your baby is by having proper prenatal care, get all the tests your doctor requests, talk to your doctor about syphilis, ask your questions, and with the right care and treatment, everything will be fine.
Diagnosis of Syphilis
Syphilis is one of those silent diseases that doesn’t cause major symptoms in the beginning, and when you realize it, the disease has already progressed to a more severe stage and is consequently harder to treat.
Health agencies recommend that if you have unprotected sexual intercourse, you should seek medical advice to run some precautionary tests. It is essential that you feel comfortable sharing any doubts with your doctor and honestly answer all questions—this interview is crucial for a more accurate diagnosis.
If a risk of infection is suspected, the doctor will likely order tests such as blood work and bacterial cultures from the site that may be infected with syphilis. If there are signs of the disease at more advanced stages, the doctor may request a cerebrospinal fluid sample.
Important: It is essential to tell your doctor if you have or have had any other infectious disease, as it can affect the test results and may require a more careful assessment.
If the diagnosis is positive, the sexual partner should be informed immediately. The conversation must be honest so that both have the chance to begin treatment as soon as possible.
Treatment of Syphilis
The recommended treatment for syphilis is penicillin, an antibiotic capable of fighting the Treponema bacteria. If started at the first stage, the chances of success are greater. In this early phase, generally a single injection of the antibiotic is indicated, which is enough to fight the disease and prevent it from progressing. In more advanced stages, multiple applications may be necessary3.
Syphilis is curable! But as you have seen, the sooner you see a doctor, the more effective the treatment will be.
Prevention
Using the good old condom during sexual intercourse is the most effective way to prevent syphilis, as well as protecting against other sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS.
See Also: First Pregnancy – Initial Exams and Procedures
Photos: dw-lifestylefotografie, GGOMANG
