Syphilis

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI.) Sexually transmitted infections are bacteria (germs) that can be passed from one person to another during sex or intimate contact (foreplay.)

Syphilis affects both men and women.

How do you catch syphilis?

Syphilis can be passed on by any kind of sex (vaginal, anal or oral,) or by touching an area of skin affected by syphilis (a sore or a rash.) It can be spread by sharing sex toys.

Syphilis is carried in the blood. This means that it can be caught by sharing needles to inject drugs.

It is also possible for a pregnant woman to pass syphilis on to her unborn baby.

You cannot catch syphilis from toilet seats, cups, cutlery or from being in a swimming pool with somebody who has syphilis.

What symptoms might I get if I have syphilis?

Syphilis affects men and women in the same way.

The symptoms can be easily missed, so many people with syphilis do not realise they are infected.

Syphilis has three stages. Each stage has different symptoms.

It is possible to pass the infection on to somebody else at any stage of your illness.

First stage:

Doctors call this 'primary syphilis'. The first stage begins days to weeks after you are infected with syphilis.

You may notice a red sore on your genitals or inside your mouth. Doctors call this sore a 'chancre'. Some people have more than one sore.

This sore is not painful. It appears on the part of your body that was exposed to the syphilis bacteria. For example, if you caught syphilis by giving an infected person oral sex, you may notice a sore in your mouth.

The sore goes away by itself in a couple of weeks. If the infection is not treated, it moves on to the second stage.

Second stage:

Doctors call this 'secondary syphilis'. The second stage of syphilis starts a couple of weeks after the sore has disappeared.

Many people with second stage syphilis notice a rash. This rash is not itchy and can appear anywhere on your body. It sometimes appears on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet.

You may also feel generally unwell. You might feel tired, have a headache, aching muscles and hair loss. These symptoms last a couple of weeks. They may come and go over several months.

Silent stage:

Doctors call this the 'latent phase'. This stage can last for several years. During this time, you may have no symptoms.

If the infection is left untreated, it may move on to the third stage.

Third stage:

Doctors call this 'tertiary syphilis'. This is the final and most severe stage of the disease. The bacteria can spread to other parts of your body, causing long term damage. Any part of your body can be affected, including your brain, eyes, ears, nerves and heart.

How will I be tested for syphilis?

You should visit a sexual health clinic such as Conifer House as soon as possible if you think you might have syphilis.

A sexual health doctor or nurse will examine your genitals.

If you have sores, the doctor or nurse will need to take a swab. This simply involves wiping the sore with a cotton bud. The cotton bud is then sent to the laboratory to look for syphilis bacteria.

The doctor or nurse will then need to take a small sample of blood from you to be tested.

How is syphilis treated?

Treatment for syphilis kills the bacteria that cause the illness – it will not reverse any damage that the syphilis has already done to your body.

This is why it is so important that you get tested and treated early. The earlier you are treated, the less likely you are to suffer any long-term damage.

Some people are given treatment before the results of their tests are back.

Syphilis is treated with antibiotics. These drugs may be given as tablets or as injections. Some people only need to take the drugs once, others need several doses. Your doctor at the sexual health clinic will tell you what you will need.

You may need to have regular blood tests after your treatment.

What happens if syphilis is left untreated?

If syphilis is left untreated it causes damage to your body that cannot be undone. It can even lead to death.

You are more likely to catch HIV if you have syphilis. This is because the syphilis sore make it easier for the HIV virus to enter your body. HIV weakens your body's defences, so the syphilis causes damage earlier in the illness.

What if I catch syphilis when I am pregnant?

Syphilis can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. This may cause a stillbirth or a miscarriage. The baby may be born infected with syphilis.

All pregnant women are offered a test for syphilis. Syphilis can be treated safely in pregnancy with antibiotics.

If you think you might have syphilis you should not wait until you are pregnant to be tested. Speak to a sexual health doctor or nurse as soon as possible.

References:

Family Planning Association. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Syphilis. 2006.

http://www.fpa.org.uk/Information/Readourinformationbooklets/Syphilis (accessed 22nd September 2009)

National Health Service. Syphilis. 2007.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Syphilis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Syphilis/Pages/Symptomspg.aspx (accessed 22nd September 2009)

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Syphilis/Pages/Diagnosispg.aspx (accessed 22nd September 2009)

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Syphilis/Pages/Complications.aspx (accessed 22nd September 2009)

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Syphilis/Pages/Prevention.aspx (accessed 22nd September 2009)