HOME | TERMS & CONDITIONS | SITEMAP & ACCESSIBILITY | CONTACT
© Medicentre 2010 - 2012 and others where indicated. Medicentre recognises and acknowledges the ownership of all trademarks and product names where mentioned.
General Medical Clinics PLC. Registered office 2-3 Salisbury Court, London EC4Y 8AA. Tel 020 7427 0605

SYPHILIS

Syphilis is caused by bacteria that attacks the body in three stages. As with so many STI's, it is entirely possible to have syphilis and not know it as some people develop visible symptoms of the syphilis infection, but others don’t. You can get syphilis more than once.

For the most part syphilis is passed on through sexual activity. It’s spread through intimate body contact including skin-to-skin contact as well as unprotected oral, anal and vaginal sex. It can also be contracted  by sharing drug use equipment. Transexuals should take note that sharing needles to inject hormones is also considered a high risk activity.

The disease goes through three stages; the Primary, Secondary and Late or Tertiary.

The Primary Stage usually features a single sore called a Chancre, although there may be more than one. This is a firm, round sore which is not painful. It then heals within 3 to 6 weeks. However if not treated, the disease progresses to the secondary stage.

The Secondary Stage is marked by the appearance of a rash or rashes, and whilst they may appear anywhere on the body, they often appear on the palms of the hands an soles of the feet. Symptoms of secondary syphilis may also include a sore throat,  fever, swollen lymph glands, headaches, hair loss, weight loss and general aching and tiredness.  This stage will pass with or without treatment, but without treatment, the disease will progress to late stage syphilis, which is a very serious condition indeed.

The Late (hidden) Stage of syphilis begins when secondary symptoms disappear. Without treatment, the infected person will continue to have syphilis even though there are no signs or symptoms as the infection remains in the body. In the late stages of syphilis, there is a very high probability of damage the internal organs, including the eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, joints, and the brain & nervous system. There are also horrific disfiguring symptoms associated with syphilis.

This internal damage may show up some years later. Signs and symptoms of the late stage of syphilis include difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, and dementia. The damage may be serious enough to cause death.

TREATMENT

Luckily, syphilis is comparatively easy to treat when caught in its early stages. Treatment is with penicillin or an alternative antibiotic. A simple blood test can identify infection.

PLEASE NOTE:
The information provided is intended only as a general guide to provide an overview of the condition. It must not be relied upon for any medical purpose.
Symptoms can vary a great deal from person to person, and the symptoms for various conditions can be identical.  
We therefore advise strongly against any self-diagnosis or self treatment based on this information and indeed, as a general principle.

The identification and treatment of any condition should be conducted only by a medical professional after due consultation.

You are in Home > Sexual Health> STI Factfiles: Syphilis