In the vast majority of cases, syphilis is transmitted by sexual contact. It can be transmitted by all forms of sexual contact, including oral and anal sex, and potentially even by kissing.
Syphilis produces a painless ulcer on the body part that’s come into contact with an infected person. That sore slowly leaks a clear liquid, which contains many syphilis bacteria. If it touches someone else’s broken skin or a mucous membrane (such as the inside of the vagina), it’s likely to create a new sore – passing on the infection. These initial sores cause no pain and are often located in hidden areas, so people can transmit syphilis without knowing they have it.
Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person with syphilis passes on the infection to their baby. This can result in serious and significant health issues for the baby, including death of the unborn baby. The incidence of congenital syphilis has also increased in recent years. All pregnant people should be routinely tested for syphilis, so that if the infection is present it can be treated.
In the vast majority of cases, syphilis is transmitted by sexual contact. It can be transmitted by all forms of sexual contact, including oral and anal sex, and potentially even by kissing.
Syphilis produces a painless ulcer on the body part that’s come into contact with an infected person. That sore slowly leaks a clear liquid, which contains many syphilis bacteria. If it touches someone else’s broken skin or a mucous membrane (such as the inside of the vagina), it’s likely to create a new sore – passing on the infection. These initial sores cause no pain and are often located in hidden areas, so people can transmit syphilis without knowing they have it.
Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person with syphilis passes on the infection to their baby. This can result in serious and significant health issues for the baby, including death of the unborn baby. The incidence of congenital syphilis has also increased in recent years. All pregnant people should be routinely tested for syphilis, so that if the infection is present it can be treated.
Penicillin, given as a long-acting injection of penicillin G benzathine, is used to treat all stages of syphilis. Despite over 60 years of use, the syphilis bacterium has not yet developed resistance to this original antibiotic. For primary syphilis, one injection (usually given as half a dose into each buttock) is enough to permanently cure this disease that once claimed so many lives.
Secondary and early-latent syphilis are treated the same way. Penicillin G benzathine will stay in the tissue for about 3 weeks. Most people with infectious syphilis, especially those in the secondary stage, suffer a reaction when they’re first treated. The symptoms include a sudden fever with headache, sweating, and possibly a rash. This clears up in less than 24 hours.
Penicillin stops the infectivity within a day or 2, and cures the disease in 1 to 2 weeks. A person should wait until the treatment is finished before engaging in sex. If the person is allergic to penicillin, desensitization to penicillin may be necessary or another antibiotic may be substituted.
Late-latent stage and some forms of tertiary syphilis are also treated with penicillin injections. Treatment usually requires an injection once weekly for 3 weeks. Though this doesn’t always kill all the hidden bacteria, it does generally stop further damage. There’s no way to repair the organ damage that’s already been done, however.
It is important to keep your follow-up appointments with your doctor. Even though you may have been treated with antibiotics, treatments have been known to fail. Your doctor will do some blood tests to make sure that the antibiotics have worked and that the bacteria have been cleared away
The best way to avoid these complications and syphilis altogether is by practicing safe sex. Wearing a condom correctly is a good first step, but standard intercourse is not the only way to get syphilis. Any mouth-to-genital contact and sometimes even mouth-to-mouth contact is enough to transmit the disease. To minimize your risk, limit your number of sexual partners and be careful who they are – ask for a syphilis (and other STI) test. If you develop syphilis, your sexual partners should be notified, tested, and possibly treated.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Syphilis
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