Student Wellness Center at OSU : Sexual Wellness : STIs : Syphilis

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Sexual Wellness

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Syphilis

Estimated number of new cases each year in the U.S.:

33,000

Statistics:

Number of new cases each year have declined for women and African-Americans every year since 1990. However, the number of syphilis cases in men increased in 2001, which is associated with reports in several cities of syphilis outbreaks among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Caused by:

The bacterium Treponema pallidum

Symptoms:

Primary Stage: The primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a single sore (called a chancre), but there may be multiple sores. The chancre is usually firm, round, small, and painless. It appears at the spot where syphilis entered the body. The chancre lasts 3-6 weeks, and it will heal on its own. If adequate treatment is not administered, the infection progresses to the secondary stage.
Secondary Stage: The second stage starts when one or more areas of the skin break into a rash that usually does not itch. The rash often appears as rough, red or reddish brown spots both on the palms of the hands and on the bottoms of the feet. Sometimes the rashes are so faint that they are not noticed. Even without treatment, rashes clear up on their own. In addition to rashes, second-stage symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and tiredness.

Transmission:

Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Syphilis can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex and from mother to child during pregnancy or child birth.

Treatment:

Treated and cured easily with penicillin or other antibiotics (will prevent further damage, but will not repair any damage already done)

If Untreated:

The latent (hidden) stage of syphilis begins when the secondary symptoms disappear. Without treatment, the infected person still has syphilis even though there are no signs or symptoms. It remains in the body, and it may begin to damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. This internal damage may show up many years later in the late or tertiary stage of syphilis. Late stage signs and symptoms include not being able to coordinate muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness and dementia. This damage may be serious enough to cause death.

Risk Reduction:

Latex barriers reduce, but do not eliminate, the risk of transmission.
Get tested!
Limit the number of sex partners, and do not go back and forth between partners.
Practice sexual abstinence, or limit sexual contact to one partner you know is not infected.
If you think you are infected, avoid sexual contact and see a health care provider.

Source for information on this page: CDC Division of STD Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/dstdp.html