What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a serious bacterial infection, which may be transmitted by an infected person during intimate, usually sexual contact. It is often called "the great imitator" because so many signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases.

How is syphilis transmitted?

Syphilis is caused by the spread of bacteria from the sores of an infected person to the mucous membranes of the genital area, the mouth, or the anus of a sexual partner. The bacteria also can pass through broken skin on other parts of the body. Once the bacteria enter the body through these moist mucous membranes, it travels through the bloodstream and can infect vital organs. Syphilis cannot be spread by toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, shared clothing or eating utensils.

What are the signs and symptoms of syphilis?

It usually takes between 10-90 days with an average of 21 days for primary symptoms to develop. The symptoms of syphilis vary according to the stage of the disease.

Primary stage

Ten to ninety days after infection, a chancre (sore) develops at the site of infection. This sore is usually painless, smooth, and red and lasts one to five weeks. A chancre usually heals whether or not a person gets treatment. However, if a person is not treated, syphilis infection persists. Virtually everyone who is not treated for primary syphilis will develop secondary syphilis. This is considered the most infectious stage.

Secondary stage

From six to twelve weeks after the initial infection, discolored spots or patches on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, moist raised or elevated skin lesions, mucous patches in mouth, throat and cervix, rash over body, patchy loss of hair, and flu like symptoms appear. These spots will clear up with or without treatment. If untreated the disease is still present and will then go into a latent stage (no signs or symptoms). During the secondary stage the disease can be cured without any complications.

Latent stage

There are no symptoms even though the infected person has not been treated. This period may last a few years to a lifetime.

Tertiary stage

One in three people who have latent syphilis develop the third stage of syphilis. This third stage starts 10 - 40 years after the primary stage. Tissue and liver damage occur which may cause severe heart disease, brain damage, paralysis, and death.

How is syphilis diagnosed?

There are three ways to diagnose syphilis: recognition of its sighs and symptoms, examination of a specimen from a moist lesion under a microscope, and a blood test to detect antibodies of the bacteria.

How is syphilis treated?

Syphilis is usually treated with injections or oral doses of penicillin over a long period of time. Since treatment fails in approximately 2 to 20 percent of persons treated with penicillin for early syphilis, follow-up evaluation is required. Retreatment should be considered when signs and symptoms of syphilis persist or recur or when tests indicate infection. All patients diagnosed with syphilis are urged to avoid sexual intercourse, even with a latex condom, until treatment is completed and their partner(s) have been checked by a health care provider. Partners should be notified and treated if necessary.

 

Source:
Sexually Transmitted Disease, (Bethesda, MD: Office of Communications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, January 1992).
Center for Disease Control and Prevention - STD Prevention website (May 2001): http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/Fact_Sheets/Syphilis_Facts.htm .