Syphilis Infection

Q: Question, A: Answer

Q. What is syphilis?

A. Syphilis also known as ‘Pox, Syph, and Lues’ is one of the sexually transmitted infections

that can cause serious health problems when left untreated for a longtime. It is caused by a

pathogen or organism called Treponema Pallidum

Q. How is Syphilis Transmitted?

A. When uninfected person comes into direct contact with the lesions of an infected person.

Anal, vaginal, and oral sex are the primary modes of transmission of the pathogen that cause

syphilis infection. Pregnant mothers can also transmit the infection to their unborn babies,

leading to miss carriage, stillbirth, and/or congenital syphilis infection. Another means of

transmission is through blood transfusion of unscreened blood of an infected person, especially

at the early stages of the disease.

Q. Who is at risk of getting syphilis?

A. Everyone who is sexually active is at risk of getting syphilis through vaginal, oral or anal sex.

Pregnant mothers, people with other sexually transmitted infections like Human

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and those with multiple sexual partners.

Q. How long does it take for symptom to appear after infection?

A. Usually two to three weeks after contact with lesions, but this can take about three months or

90 days.

Q. How do you recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease?

A. Syphilis is termed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a “The Great

Pretender” because most of the clinical presentations (sign and symptoms) resemble other

infections [ CITATION CDC17 \l 1033 ].

As the infections progresses, from weeks to months to years, certain defining symptoms appear

usually according to the stage of the disease (primary, secondary, and tertiary syphilis)

These signs and symptoms are:

Primary stage:

 The presence of single or multiple chancre (sores). The sores are usually firm, round, and

painless. With adequate treatment, these sores disappear. In the absence of treatment, the

infection progress to secondary stage.

Secondary stage:

 Rashes or lesions (or both) on the mucous membranes of the mouth, vagina, and the anus.

 Flu-like symptoms, such as: -Fever, Malaise, Sore Throat,

 Swollen (enlarged) glands,

 Headache,

 Muscle Aches.

Presence of sores in the mouth, vagina, or anus. weight or hair loss may also occur. These may

take about two (2) to six (6) weeks, but may last up to two years.

Tertiary stage:

This is usually rare because treatment would have cleared the infection. In case of untreated

syphilis, many organs (liver, kidneys, brain, skin, muscles, etc.) may become infected.

Symptoms will depend on the organ infected or involved.

Q. How do you prevent syphilis?

A. Abstaining from sex or having one sexual partner (being faithful). Abstinence is the only sure

way to prevent or avoid contracting most sexually transmissible infections including Syphilis.

Another way is to have faith and trust in your sexual partner. You should both test for Sexually

Transmitted Infections and maintain your statuses.

Alcohol and drug abuse are behaviors that are directly linked with certain STI. Avoid misusing

drugs and alcohol.

Use of condoms as a barrier when you have not tested your partner is another way of stopping

the pathogen from infecting you.

Q. Can syphilis be treated?

A. Yes. There are medical or drug treatment for syphilis infection. However, you will need to

test and be confirmed to have syphilis by visiting your healthcare provider. When you test

positive, your provider will determine the stage of infection and provide you with the most

appropriate mode of treatment. The duration of treatment also depends on the stage of disease.

Long-acting benzathine penicillin G) is administered in the gluteus muscle at a single dose of 2.4

million units. This treatment is preferred for nonpregnant adult patients having primary,

secondary and early latent syphilis.

Alternatively, when you are allergic for Penicillin, your doctor may prescribe:

 Doxycycline - 100 mg PO bid for 28 days for latent syphilis (not used in pregnant

mothers)

 Ceftriaxone 1 g – Intravenously (IV) or Intramuscularly (IM) daily for 10 days (for the

case of pregnant mothers, may be expensive) [ CITATION WHO16 \l 1033 ].

Mortality rates from untreated syphilis is more in males than females and about 8% will die from

the disease. Other complications include: stroke, dementia, heart diseases, bone diseases, etc.
Is there any vaccine against syphilis?

As of to date, there is no none vaccine for syphilis infection. However, syphilis can be cured

completely when the right drugs are given for its treatment. With time, vaccines may become

available when the researcher develop and test an appropriate vaccine.

Question

Have you been diagnosed with syphilis? If yes, which drug or drug combination were used for

your treatment?

Reference:

CDC. (2017, June 8). Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from Center for

Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis.htm

WHO. (2016, 4). Word Health Organisation. Retrieved 2020, from Word Health Organisation:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK384905/