Syphilis

Syphilis is one of many sexually transmitted diseases caused by a bacterium -- in this case, Treponema
pallidum. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with sores on the external genitals during
vaginal, anal, or oral sex. There are four stages of progression, and without treatment, syphilis can ultimately
lead to death. The most common treatment for the condition is the antibiotic penicillin.

Syphilis
What is Treponema pallidum?
Treponema pallidum is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease Syphilis. The
gram-negative spirochete is an obligate human parasite. It ranges in length from 6-20 um,
while its diameter ranges from 18-20 um. Research indicates that the organism is
microaerophilic and requires low concentrations of oxygen. The corkscrew shaped bacterium
has no animal or environmental reservoirs.

Syphilis Transmission: An Overview

Syphilis transmission most often occurs through direct contact with a syphilis
sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. These sores occur mainly on the
external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum. Sores can also occur on
the lips and in the mouth.

Syphilis Signs and Symptoms: An Introduction

The four stages of syphilis include:

Primary syphilis
Secondary syphilis
Latent syphilis
Tertiary syphilis.

Primary Symptoms of Syphilis

The first symptom of primary syphilis is often a single, small, round, painless sore,
called a chancre (shan-ker). This chancre appears about 10 to 90 days after
infection, most commonly around 3 weeks after a person has become infected with
the syphilis bacteria (Treponema pallidum). The sore can appear on the vulva,
vagina, cervix, tongue, lips, or other parts of the body, including inside the body.

The secondary stage of syphilis starts 2 to 10 weeks after the chancre

sore appears. Common secondary symptoms can include: Sores on the throat,
mouth, or cervix.
Sore throat and swollen lymph glands.
Fever.

Skin rash with rough, red or reddish-brown spots both on the palms of the hands
and bottoms of the feet. The rash usually does not itch. Rashes with a different
appearance may occur on other parts of the body.

Headaches and muscle aches.

Patchy hair loss on the head and other parts of the body.
Weight loss. Tiredness.

Latent Symptoms
The latent (hidden) stage of syphilis begins when secondary syphilis symptoms end.
This stage can begin anywhere from 2 years to over 30 years after the initial
infection.

Tertiary Symptoms
Even without treatment for syphilis, only a minority of infected people develop the
complications associated with tertiary (or late) syphilis. In this stage, the bacteria
will damage your internal organs, including the heart, eyes, brain, nervous system,
bones, liver, joints, or almost any other part of your body. This damage can happen
years or even decades after the primary stage.

Late symptoms of syphilis can include:

Mental illness
Small bumps or tumours on organs
Blindness
Deafness
Memory loss
Difficulty coordinating muscle movements
Paralysis
Numbness

What are treatment options for syphilis?

An injection of penicillin is normally sufficient to treat an adult who has been infected with
the bactrium, Treponema pallidum, for fewer than twelve months. One day after starting
treatment a person can no longer transmit the bacterium. It is necessary to increase the
antibiotic dosage for an individual who has carried the disease for more than one year. An
infant who contracted the disease from the mother, requires ten daily dosages of penicillin.
No over-the-counter medications are available to cure syphilis. Those infected with syphilis
must refrain from sexual contact until all sores are completely healed. Regardless of the
stage of syphilis, the disease can be cured. However, for individuals whose disease has
progressed to the tertitary stage, any damage caused to the organ can not be reversed

How can syphilis be prevented?

Since syphilis is most often transmitted through sexual contact, abstaining from such activity
with infected individuals will prevent transmission. Similar to other STD's, the use of
condoms also helps in preventing transmission. To prevent advanced stages of the disease,
individuals who have symptoms should seek medical treatment and screening. Infection of
infants can be greatly prevented through detection and treatment early in the pregnancy.