Syphilis is a bacterial infection that’s been around for ages, and although it’s less dangerous and widespread since the clever invention of penicillin, it’s still a common STD worldwide. Syphilis, which was thought to be under control in the UK, has increased considerably. 

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of syphilis take up to 3 months to appear after exposure, and can be mild or hard to recognise. It’s a disease that gets progressively worse if left untreated, so you’ll experience different symptoms depending on which stage you’re at. Men and women have the same symptoms, listed below:

• The first stage is when you get one or more ulcers in the area where you first came into contact with the disease. These are often hidden, for example in the cervix or anus, and in any case are often difficult to notice – but they are extremely infectious.
• During the secondary stage, usually 3 to six weeks after the ulcers first appear, you’ll experience tiredness, swollen glands, loss of appetite and other flu symptoms. You could also notice hair loss in small patches, a white rash on the tongue or the roof of your mouth, or warty growths around the anus and genital region. The problems will probably clear up after a week or two, but could continue to reappear for years.
• The final stages are known as the latent phase, where you don’t experience any symptoms.

Dangers

If it’s left untreated, syphilis can become extremely dangerous. In the latent phase, usually when you’ve had the disease in excess of 10 years, it can damage your heart and nervous system and even psychosis. Even if you finally treat the syphilis this damage is irreversible.
It’s also possible for a mother to infect her baby in the womb if she doesn’t get treated – it’s called congenital syphilis, and can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and other complications.

Treatment

It’s vital to diagnose and treat syphilis as early as possible to prevent the dangerous side effects of the third stage of the disease, so if you think you may have syphilis, speak to your doctor immediately. They should give you an examination and blood test, although it takes up to 3 months after exposure for the infection to show up in your blood. Once diagnosed, treatment involves a two week course of injections or antibiotic tablets.

Prevention

Never have unprotected sex, and if you are infected don’t have sex at all in the early, most infectious stages as condoms often don’t cover all your sores or rashes, and so cannot be fully effective.

Read More:

Gonorrhea: What You Need to Know: Read on to find out the signs, symptoms, dangers, treatments and prevention methods of the sexually transmitted disease, Gonorrhea.

Spot the STD: Chlamydia: Signs, symptoms and effects of one of the UK’s biggest STD

Genital Warts: Genital warts can be transmitted through sex, including anal and oral, but also through non-penetrative foreplay. To learn more about the sexually transmitted disease, read on.

Signs and Syptoms of Syphilis: Transmitted through sex, including oral and anal, syphilis can be extremely dangerous if left untreated.

Herpes: There are 8 types of herpes, not all of them sexually transmitted. Read on to find out more.