SYPHILIS, Causes and Prevention.
By Louisa Obodai
13th August, 2021
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a type of bacteria known as Treponema pallidum.
Syphilis is most likely to spread during oral, anal, or vaginal sexual activity. People rarely pass the bacteria on through kissing.
The first sign of syphilis is a small, painless sore. It can appear on the sexual organs, rectum, or inside the mouth. This sore is called a chancre. People often fail to notice it right away.
Syphilis can be challenging to diagnose. One can have it without showing any symptoms for years. However, the earlier syphilis is discovered, the better. Syphilis that remains untreated for a long time can cause major damage to important organs, like the heart and brain.
Syphilis is only spread through direct contact with syphilitic chancres.
These bacteria can spread between people through direct contact with a syphilitic sore.
These sores may develop on the skin or mucous membranes of the vagina, anus, rectum, lips, or mouth.
Syphilis cannot be transmitted by sharing a toilet with another person, wearing another person’s clothing, or using another person’s eating utensils.
Stages of Syphilis infection.
There are four stages of syphilis infection. Primary stage, secondary stage, Latent and Tertiary Stage.
The primary stage of syphilis occurs about three to four weeks after a person contracts the bacteria. It begins with a small, round sore called a chancre. A chancre is painless, but it’s highly infectious. This sore may appear wherever the bacteria entered the body, such as on or inside the mouth, genitals, or rectum.
Skin rashes and a sore throat may develop during the second stage of syphilis. The rash won’t itch and is usually found on the palms and soles, but it may occur anywhere on the body. Some people don’t notice the rash before it goes away. Other symptoms of secondary syphilis infection include;headaches,swollen lymph nodes,fatigue,fever,weight loss
hair loss and aching joints.
These symptoms will go away whether or not treatment is received. However, without treatment, a person still has syphilis.
The third stage of syphilis is the latent stage. The primary and secondary symptoms disappear, and there won’t be any noticeable symptoms at this stage. However, the bacteria remain in the body. This stage could last for years before progressing to tertiary syphilis.
Tertiary syphilis can occur years or decades after the initial infection. Tertiary syphilis can be life-threatening. Some other potential outcomes of tertiary syphilis include:
blindness,deafness,mental illness
memory loss,destruction of soft tissue and bone andneurological disorders, such as stroke or meningitis,heart disease
neurosyphilis, which is an infection of the brain or spinal cord.
Complications of Syphilis
Mothers infected with syphilis are at risk for miscarriages, still births, or premature births. There’s also a risk that a mother with syphilis will pass the disease on to her fetus. This is known as congenital syphilis.
Congenital syphilis can be life-threatening. Babies born with congenital syphilis can also have the following: deformities,developmental delays,seizures,rashes,fever,swollen liver or spleen,anemia,jaundice.
Syphilis sores also facilitate the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. This is likely due to the fact that a syphilis sore can bleed, providing an easy way for HIV to enter the bloodstream.
Treatment for syphilis can be successful, particularly in the early stages.
People with syphilis must avoid sexual contact until they have completed all treatment and received blood test results confirming that the disease has resolved.
Preventive measures to decrease the risk of syphilis include:
√abstaining from sex
√Avoid multiple sex partners
√using a condom, although these only protect against genital sores and not those that develop elsewhere on the body
√using a dental dam, or plastic square, during oral sex
√avoiding sharing sex toys
When to get tested for syphilis;
✓after having unprotected sex
✓having a new sex partner
✓having multiple sex partners
✓a sexual partner receiving a diagnosis of syphilis
✓a man having sex with different men
Thanks for reading. Like, share and comment.
Written by Louisa Katimel Obodai.
Please how can you treat it in case you are experiencing some and how long will it take