SYPHILIS: Cause, Transmission, Stages, Signs and Symptoms and Treatment using antibiotics

OVERVIEW

 Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. It is majorly transmitted through all kinds of sex. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby (Congenital syphilis). Syphilis can be classified into 4 types/stages: Primary, Secondary, Latent and Tertiary syphilis, with each having their characteristic signs and symptoms. These include: Appearance of a single or multiple sore(s) on the genitals, rashes on the body such as on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, swollen lymph glands, weight loss, gummas etc. Treatment of syphilis can be effectively done with antibiotics such as penicillin G, azithromycin, doxycyclin, or tetracycline


*Singular: Bacterium; Plural: Bacteria. We will/use the term "Bacteria" in this context because the disease condition is caused by numerous T.pallidum organisms and not just an individual organism*

Treponema pallidum - the bacteria that causes Syphilis

DID YOU KNOW THAT EATING STRONG SCENTED FOODS, SUCH AS GARLIC, CAN CAUSE HALITOSIS?

The disease (specifically the bacteria) is transmitted through close contact with an infected sore normally during vaginal, anal or oral sex or by sharing sex toys with an infected person.

The disease can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. This is called Congenital syphilis.

Syphilis cannot be spread by sharing the same toilet, clothing, cutlery or bathroom with an infected person because the bacteria can not survive for long outside the human body.

The average time between infection with Syphilis and appearance of the first symptom (i.e. the incubation period) is 21days. But it can range from 10 to 90days

The signs and symptoms of Syphilis is divided into 4 stages

Stage 1 (Primary Syphilis)

The appearance of a single or multiple sore(s) on the genitals or sometimes around the mouth marks this stage. This sore is usually, round, hard, non-itchy, painless, highly infectious and develops at the point of entry of the bacteria. It is this sore that transmits the disease, and most times, it usually goes unnoticed because of its painlessness. The sore lasts for 3 to 6weeks and the person is highly infectious and heals whether or not the person is treated

The primary sore on the point of the bacteria on the genital - it is the first stage of the disease

Stage 2 (Secondary Syphilis)

This stage usually starts with a rash on one or more areas of the body. This rash can appear from the time when the primary sore is healing to several weeks after the sore has healed. This rash may appear as rough, red or reddish-brown spots on the palms of the hands and/or soles of the feet and is usually non-itchy.

However, this rash may look different on other parts of the body and can look like rashes caused by other diseases. People with secondary syphilis are highly infectious and may also experience moist warts in the groin, white patches on the inside of the mouth, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches and fatigue. Again, these symptoms will go away even without treatment

Non-itchy rash on the palm - A secondary stage symptom

Non-itchy rash on the body - A secondary stage symptom

Non-itchy rash on the sole of the feet - A secondary stage symptom

Stage 3 (Latent or Hidden Syphilis)

Without adequate and appropriate treatment, the disease progresses to this stage. This stage presents no symptoms and can last for several years. Also, at this stage, the person is not infectious.

Stage 4 (Tertiary Syphilis)

This stage can appear 3 to 15years after the infection began and is less frequently seen today than in the past because of early detection and adequate treatment. In tertiary syphilis, the infection have continued to grow for years and serious damage is done to the body. Pockets of damage, or lesions, affects various tissues such as the bones, skin, nervous tissue, heart, and arteries. These areas are called gummas, and are very destructive.

Gumma on the finger - a tertiary stage symptom

Gumma on the leg - a tertiary stage symptom

Other symptoms include difficulty co-ordinating muscle movements; paralysis; impotence; numbess; deafness; gradual blindness; dementia etc. All these eventually culminate in death

People with Syphilis are 3 - 5times more susceptible to HIV. This is because the genital sores caused by Syphilis bleeds easily, making it easier for the HIV virus to enter the bloodstream during sexual activity. Also, infection with HIV and syphilis can be very serious because the syphilis can progress more rapidly than normal.

The treatment of syphilis is determined by the length of time the person has been infected (or the current stage of the disease)
Syphilis can be treated effectively with antibiotics such as penicillin G,  azithromycin, doxycycline, or tetracycline (for patients who are allergic to penicillin). Length of treatment depends on the extent of the infection and factors such as the person's overall health.



Thanks For Making This Possible! Kindly Bookmark and Share it.