Syphilis

1. Definition
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium (Treponema pallidum). The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection.

2. Causes
Syphilis is caused by the bacterium treponema pallidum. Transmition of the bacteria usually occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

3. Symptoms
The syphilis bacteria are passed from person to person through direct contact with:
a) Primary Stage
A single, painless sore, called a chancre (shan-ker), appears in the first, or primary stage, about 10 days to 90 days after infection. The sore can appear on the vulva, vagina, cervix, tongue, lips, or other parts of the body, including inside the body. Twenty-one days after infection is the most common time frame in which the sore appears. The sore heals with or without treatment. In this stage, syphilis can be passed to others through contact with an open sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If the infection is not treated, it moves to the next, or secondary, stage.
b) Secondary Stage
In the secondary stage, which starts three to six weeks after the sore appears, some or all of these symptoms can appear:
 Skin rash with rough, red or reddish-brown spots both on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet. The rash usually does not itch. Rashes with a different appearance may occur on other parts of the body.
 Sores on the throat, mouth, or cervix
 Fever
 Sore throat and swollen lymph glands
 Patchy hair loss on the head and other parts of the body
 Headaches and muscle aches
 Weight loss
 Tiredness
During vaginal, anal, or oral sex, contact with open sores or contact with the rash can spread the infection to others. The symptoms of secondary syphilis will resolve with or without treatment. But without treatment, the infection will progress to the latent and late stages of disease.
c) Latent Stage
The next stage is called the latent or hidden stage. This stage can start from two years to over thirty years after initial infection. After symptoms from the secondary stage disappear, a relapse of the second stage of syphilis can happen, when those symptoms come back. If a relapse happens, the disease can be passed to others. Otherwise, the disease cannot be passed to another person. Even without treatment, some people with latent syphilis do not go on to develop late stage syphilis. But others will go on to develop late stage syphilis.
d) Late Stage
In the late stage of syphilis, some people suffer damage to the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. Complications may include small bumps or tumors on organs, blindness, insanity, or paralysis. This stage can last for years. Some people may die from the disease. You will only reach this stage if you have not received treatment earlier. If you have syphilis, get treated as soon as possible to avoid these problems.

4. Treatment
Syphilis is treated with penicillin, usually administered by injection. A person no longer usually transmits syphilis 24 hours after beginning treatment.
Some people, however, do not respond to the usual doses of penicillin, therefore, it is important that people being treated for syphilis have periodic blood tests to check that the bacteria has been completely destroyed. Persons with neuro-syphilis may need to be retested for up to 2 years after treatment.
People with an allergic reaction to penicillin should consult their doctor for appropriate antibiotic advice. Safe, effective, single-dose oral antibiotic treatment for syphilis is being sought for people who are allergic to penicillin (10% of population).
Proper treatment in all stages of the disease will cure the disease, but in late syphilis, damage already done to body organs cannot be reversed.

To Preventing syphilis disease :
 Faithful to one partner
 Avoid Free Sex