What is Syphilis
- Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
How is syphilis spread?
- Syphilis is spread from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore.
- Transmission occurs during vaginal, oral or anal sex.
- Syphilis can be spread from mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery.
- Genital sores from syphilis make it easier to spread Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (both passing it on and acquiring it).
What will decrease the risk of getting syphilis?
- The surest way to prevent all STIs is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a relationship with one partner who has been tested for syphilis and is not infected and you only have sex with each other and no one else.
- Use condoms for every sexual encounter (including oral sex) although not all sores may be covered by the condom.
- Limit the number of sexual partners you have.
How is syphilis diagnosed?
- Through a blood test.
- Because of the risks for an unborn baby, all pregnant women should be tested for syphilis.
How is syphilis treated?
- An injection of a special form of penicillin (antibiotic) is used to treat syphilis.
- More than one dose may be needed in a pregnant woman, if syphilis is in the late stages or if the person is also infected with HIV.
What are the signs and symptoms of syphilis?
- Primary Stage (the first stage)
- A painless sore called a chancre ("shank-er") will appear 10-90 days after infection occurs.
- The chancre is usually firm, round, small and painless.
- The sore appears where the bacteria enters the body such as the vagina, penis, mouth or anus and may not be noticed.
- Symptoms may be mild.
- Symptoms may go away without treatment, but the infection will progress to the secondary stage.
- Secondary Stage (the second stage)
- Starts two to four months after becoming infected and lasts for several weeks.
- Starts with a non-itchy rash.
- The rash may appear as rough, red or reddish brown spots on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet.
- Rashes with a different appearance may occur on other parts of the body.
- Other symptoms may be fever, swollen glands, sore throat, hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches and tiredness.
- The signs and symptoms will resolve without treatment, but the disease will progress to latent and possibly late stages of the disease.
- Latent and Late Stages
- Begins when the symptoms of the secondary stage disappear.
- There are no signs or symptoms (latent stage), but the disease may begin to damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints.
- Symptoms may appear 10 to 20 years after infection (late stage) and may include difficulty in coordinating muscle movements, gradual blindness, dementia, and may result in death.
What are the long-term complications of Syphilis?
- It can damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints.
- Syphilis in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, serious birth defects and possible death of the newborn
Who is at risk of getting Syphilis?
- Those who use alcohol and/or drugs (including injection drug use) because this may lead to risky sexual behaviour.
- Those who have more than one sexual partner.
- Those who have unprotected sexual contact (oral, anal or vaginal).
- Those who have had sex with someone known to be infected with syphilis.
- Recent outbreaks in Saskatchewan have noted increased risks for:
- Men who have sex with men
- Sex trade workers
- Anonymous partnering (for example, finding sexual partners online)
- Those in circumstances that limit the ability to make healthy decisions about sex (for example, exchange of sex for money or drugs)
For more information contact:
your local public health office,
OR your physician or nurse practitioner,
OR HealthLine at 1-877-800-0002,
OR see RELATED LINKS below for a sexual health clinic:
List of clinics that specialize in dealing with sexually transmitted infections.
Information on common infections, their symptoms, prevention and treatment.
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