Syphilis Overview
Syphilis is an STD (sexually transmitted disease) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is a highly contagious STD with the number of people infected growing each year. In the US alone there are approximately 50,000 people infected with This Sexually Transmitted Disease.
Syphilis is easily spread by coming in contact with a sore that is caused by the STD Syphilis including penis, vagina, anal, and even mouth contact. The most common age group of people that are infected with Syphilis are, according to the CDC, 20 to 39 men and women alike.
STD Syphilis Symptoms Do I have Syphilis?
The symptoms of syphilis like many other STDs can often be nonexistent for an extended period of time. Generally you should see symptoms in or around three months after you have come in contact with a syphilis sore, but this is not always the case. Symptoms of Syphilis, could and often do, take over a year to expose the fact that you are infected with the STI especially in women where the sore could be hidden and not in plain site.
The most prominent Syphilis Symptom would be the Syphilis sore. The sores could show up inside or around the vagina, penis, anus, and on or in the lips and mouth. They are small painless red bumps near whatever bodypart came in contact with original Syphilis sore. The sore will usually clear up on its own in around six weeks even with no treatment, but the STD will remain active in your body and will get worse with time.
There are Three stages of Syphilis in which a few different Syphilis Symptoms may occur.
The first stage of Syphilis Symptoms include:
- Slight Soreness around infected area.
- Small red bumps appearing around infected area.
The second stage of Syphilis Symptoms include:
- Small bumps start to heal on their own.
- Start to see a rash developing on hands, feet, and possibly other areas of the body.
- Fever.
- Swollen lymph glands.
- Hair loss.
- Weight loss.
- Fatigue.
The third and final stage of Syphilis symptoms show up years later and include:
- Second stage Syphilis symptoms start to disappear on their own.
- Damage to the brain.
- Damage to the eyes (partial blindness).
- Damage to the nerves.
- Damage to the liver.
- Paralysis.
- Dementia.
As you can see without treatment Syphilis can become a very serious STD to become infected with and you should see a medical professional at the first sign of symptoms.
Warning Grafic Syphilis Pictures
STD Syphilis Treatment Diagnosis and Cure
Doctors can often visually tell if you are infected with the STD Syphilis when symptoms are present. If not they may do tests to see if you are infected with this extremely dangerous STD.
Syphilis is easily treated in the first stage with basic antibiotics, but will get increasingly more difficult the longer you wait. After waiting more than a year, many doses of antibiotics will have to be taken to cure syphilis and even more problems occur with curing this bacterium if you wait any longer. Unfortunately if you wait this long much permanent damage will have already been done to your body and they are all irreversible.