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- What is Syphilis and how is it spread? Is it curable?
- What are the symptoms?
- What should I do if I think I have symptoms or may
have been exposed?
- How is Syphilis treated?
- How can I protect myself and my partners from
Syphilis?
- What if I have a question not answered here?
Syphilis is an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) caused by Treponema
pallidium, a bacterium. Painless sores or ulcers are caused by the
bacteria. Syphilis can be spread through contact with these sores during
oral, anal, or vaginal sex.
These sores are called 'chancres.' In the first stage of Syphilis,
called Primary Syphilis, the chancres are usually found on or
around the genitals, anus, or mouth. Even if you aren't treated, these
chancres will go away on their own, but Syphilis is still in the body.
This leads to the next stage, called Secondary Syphilis, where a rash may
appear, along with many sores, hair loss, white patches on the tongue, or
wart-like growths on the genitals. In the Late Syphilis stage, also
called Tertiary Syphilis, untreated Syphilis can lead to blindness,
mental illness, heart problems, and in some cases,
death.
Syphilis is spread through skin-to-skin contact with the sores, or
chancres. Unlike HIV, Syphilis is NOT passed through bodily fluids (blood,
semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk). It is possible to spread Syphilis by
rubbing genitals together or kissing if a sore is present on the genitals, lips,
or tongue. However, you are far more likely to get Syphilis by having
unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex than by rubbing genitals together or
kissing. See how you can protect yourself below.
Syphilis can also be passed from a pregnant mother to her baby. Syphilis
is NOT spread through contact with toilet seats, swimming pools, hot tubs, bath
tubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils.
There is a very important link between Syphilis and HIV, as well as other
STDs. Syphilis chancres, or lesions, make it easier for HIV to enter the
body. If a person is HIV positive, their immune system is weaker
than normal. As a result, Syphilis may progress more quickly and do more
damage to the body. Because it is curable, it is important to be tested
for Syphilis if you are sexually active.
Yes, Syphilis is curable! Penicillin is used to treat the
infection. Read about where to get tested and treated on the Testing
Sites page.
Each of the three stages of Syphilis has its own symptoms. The first
stage, Primary Syphilis, begins approximately 3-12 weeks after being
infected. A painless sore called a 'chancre' will appear, usually brownish
red in color. The chancre usually appears on the genitals, mouth, rectum,
or vagina. The chancre will go away on its own in 1-5 weeks, but
Syphilis is still in the body.
Secondary Syphilis starts about 2-7 months after infection.
Examples of symptoms are a
rash on the body, hands, or feet, white patches on the tongue,
hair loss, and wart-like growths on the genitals. Other symptoms include
muscle pain, headache, or fever. These symptoms can also go away on their
own, but Syphilis is still in the body.
The third stage of Syphilis, also called Late Syphilis or Tertiary
Syphilis, occurs years after infection. During this stage, permanent
damage can occur, including blindness, mental illness, heart problems, brain
damage, and even death.
If you have symptoms, you should STOP having sex and be tested
and treated as soon as possible. Syphilis symptoms can be very easy to
miss, and sometimes a person with Syphilis may show no symptoms at all. If
you think you have these symptoms or have been exposed to Syphilis, get
tested! If you're not sure how to tell, come to any of the listed testing sites, or call your
doctor.
Syphilis can be treated and cured in the early stages with a shot of Penicillin. If you are allergic
to Penicillin, there are different medications that will treat Syphilis.
If you had Syphilis before and were treated, you can still get Syphilis again.
Being treated for Syphilis does NOT mean you are immune!
The surest way to prevent yourself from Syphilis and other STDs is
not to have sexual contact, or to be in mutually monogamous relationship (meaning
neither of you have sex with anyone else) with one partner who has been tested
and is not infected.
If you are sexually active, condoms can help protect you from Syphilis, if
used all of the time and correctly during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
Condoms only protect you against what they cover, and thus are not 100%
effective. If a sore is not covered by a condom, it may infect you if it
comes into contact with your bare skin. To help protect yourself from
Syphilis, always use condoms for oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Reducing the
number of your sexual partners also helps to reduce the risk. Before having
sex, check your partner for signs of Syphilis, such as sores or rashes, and ask
them if they have ever had Syphilis. If you notice a partner shows signs
of Syphilis, the safest thing to do is to NOT have sex with them. If you
think you may have symptoms, or may have been exposed to Syphilis, don't have
sex until after you get tested and are treated,
and the sores have completely healed!
If you currently have Syphilis or recently had it, all of your sexual
partners (anyone with whom you have had oral, anal, or vaginal sex with or
without condoms) from the last three months should be tested and treated.
The incubation period for Syphilis is three months. This means that
someone may have Syphilis in their body, but have a negative test result for
three months after they are infected. Any sexual partners you have had
more than three months ago should be
tested. They only need treatment if their test result comes back
positive.
If you have Syphilis, it is extremely important to notify your sexual
partner(s) so that they may be tested and treated. Untreated Syphilis can
lead to potentially life-threatening health problems such as blindness or brain
damage. Your partners can also infect someone else, or re-infect you. Having
Syphilis once does NOT prevent you from getting it again!
Email or call the Columbus Health Department Sexual Health
Program at (614) 645-1543. You can also call
the National STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) hotline at 1-800-227-8922 or
visit www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/disease_info.htm.
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