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Syphilis – Causes & First Symptoms
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The syphilis bacteria may stay dormant in the body for decades after the first infection before becoming active again. Early syphilis is potentially treatable with a single penicillin injection.
The risk of contracting Syphilis can be reduced when folks use the necessary protection.
Without treatment, syphilis may cause life-threatening damage to the heart, brain, and other organs. Syphilis may potentially be transmitted from mothers to fetuses. Babies born to infected mothers might get syphilis via the placenta or at delivery. The majority of new-borns with congenital syphilis show no symptoms, however some develop a rash on the palms and soles of their hands and feet.
A good percentage of syphilis patients who do not get therapy develop problems known as tertiary syphilis. The condition may cause damage to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints in its advanced stages. These complications may manifest several years after the initial untreated illness. Continue reading for vital information on Syphilis, including its causes and first symptoms.
The syphilis bacteria may stay dormant in the body for decades after the first infection before becoming active again. Early syphilis is potentially treatable with a single penicillin injection.
The risk of contracting Syphilis can be reduced when folks use the necessary protection.
Without treatment, syphilis may cause life-threatening damage to the heart, brain, and other organs. Syphilis may potentially be transmitted from mothers to fetuses. Babies born to infected mothers might get syphilis via the placenta or at delivery. The majority of new-borns with congenital syphilis show no symptoms, however some develop a rash on the palms and soles of their hands and feet.
A good percentage of syphilis patients who do not get therapy develop problems known as tertiary syphilis. The condition may cause damage to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints in its advanced stages. These complications may manifest several years after the initial untreated illness. Continue reading for vital information on Syphilis, including its causes and first symptoms.
Your Doctor May Ask You a Number of Personal Questions to Determine the Cause
If you suspect you have syphilis, you should avoid sexual activity until you’ve spoken with your doctor. If you participate in sexual activity prior to consulting a physician, be careful to use safe sex practices, such as a condom.
Providing your doctor with a thorough account of your symptoms and sexual history can help him or her determine the cause and select the best course of treatment for you. Here are some of the questions your physician may pose:
• What symptoms made you decide to come in? How long have you had these symptoms?
• Are you sexually active with men, women or both?
• Do you currently have one sex partner or more than one?
• How long have you been with your current partner or partners?
• Have you ever injected yourself with drugs?
• Have you ever had sex with someone who has injected drugs?
• What do you do to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
• What do you do to prevent pregnancy?
The First Sign of Syphilis is a Small Sore, Commonly Known as a Chancre
Syphilis develops in stages, and symptoms vary with each stage. But the stages may overlap, and symptoms don’t always occur in the same order. You may be infected with syphilis without noticing any symptoms for years.
The first sign of syphilis is a small sore, called a chancre. The sore appears at the spot where the bacteria entered your body. While most people infected with syphilis develop only one chancre, some people develop several of them.
The chancre usually develops about three weeks after exposure. Many people who have syphilis don’t notice the chancre because it’s usually painless, and it may be hidden within the vagina or rectum. The chancre will heal on its own within three to six weeks.
Secondary Syphilis, Latent Syphilis and Tertiary Syphilis May Follow First Stage Symptoms
• Second Stage Syphilis
Within a few weeks of the initial chancre healing, you may get a rash that starts on your trunk and subsequently spreads to your whole body, including your palms and soles.
This rash is often not irritating and may be followed by mouth or genital lesions that resemble warts. Some individuals may report hair loss, muscular pains, fever, sore throat, and lymph node enlargement. These signs and symptoms may vanish within a few weeks or recur intermittently for up to a year.
• Latent Syphilis
If untreated, syphilis progresses from the secondary stage to the hidden (latent) stage, in which no symptoms are present. The latent phase may persist for many years. Signs and symptoms may never reappear, or the illness may develop to the tertiary stage.
• Third Stage Syphilis
Tertiary syphilis affects 15 to 30 percent of syphilis patients who do not get therapy. In its severe phases, the illness may harm the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. These side effects might appear years after the untreated illness’s original onset.
Penicillin May Be Prescribed by Your Physician for First Stage Syphilis
When discovered and treated early on, syphilis is simple to cure. At all phases, penicillin, an antibiotic that may destroy the syphilis-causing bacteria, is the chosen therapy. If you are allergic to penicillin, your physician may offer an alternative antibiotic or penicillin desensitization.
A single injection of penicillin is the recommended therapy for primary, secondary, or early-stage latent syphilis, which refers to an infection within the last year. You may need more doses if you’ve had syphilis for more than a year.
The sole approved therapy for pregnant women with syphilis is penicillin. Women who are allergic to penicillin may be able to take penicillin after undergoing a desensitization treatment.
