General Information About Syphilis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
Known throughout history, it is an insidious bacterial infection transmitted through sexual intercourse that, when untreated, hides in the body for years and leads to devastating organ damage.
It is transmitted through direct contact with the painless syphilis sores on an infected person's genitals, mouth, or rectum during sexual contact, or from mother to baby during pregnancy.
It is the singular, hard, round, and most importantly, completely painless sore that appears at the point of transmission (usually on the penis or vagina) in the first stage of the disease. The sore heals on its own within weeks, concealing the disease.
In the primary stage, a sore (chancre) appears. In the secondary stage (weeks later), non-itchy red rashes appear on the trunk, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. In the tertiary (late) stage, the bacteria begin to destroy the heart valves and the brain.
It is definitively detected with serological tests such as VDRL, RPR, or TPHA, which look for syphilis antibodies in the blood.
Although the disease can have very serious consequences, its treatment is highly effective. In the early stages, the bacteria is completely cleared from the body with a single dose of intramuscular Penicillin injection. In advanced stages, the penicillin doses are repeated.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
