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Sexually Transmitted Infection- Syphilis 

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Sexually Transmitted Infection- Syphilis 

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Approximately 50,000 individuals are infected with Syphilis each year in the United States.

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This STI is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium, which is names Treponema pallidum. The bacterium incubates in the body for up to 6 week before symptoms occur.

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There are three main stages of Syphilis. These include: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. In addition to those, there is also another stage, the latency stage that may also occur in between the secondary and tertiary stages.

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Each of the stages of Syphilis presents with different symptoms. The first symptom that is presented in the primary stage will be a painless chancre sore on either the genitalia or the mouth area. A few weeks later, a pink skin rash will likely appear all over the body, along with fever and joint pain. Hair loss also sometimes occurs. These symptoms will subside within about 3 months, and this will mark the beginning of the latent stage. At this stage, the symptoms of the infection can come and go for years. At this point, the immune system will either be able to kill the bacteria, or the infection can progress to the tertiary stage. With this stage comes destructive lesions to the brain and damage to the cardiovascular organs, bones, and joints. These damages can be fatal.

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Like many STI's, syphilis can have very adverse effects on newborns. According to the CDC, how congenital syphilis impacts an infant's health depends on when the infection was acquired during pregnancy and whether or not the mother received treatment.The infection can cause miscarriages, still births, and even the baby's death shortly after birth. Approximately 40% of babies born to women with untreated syphilis can be stillborn or die. Newborns with congenital syphilis can have bone damage, severe anemia, enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, nerve problems causing blindness or deafness, meningitis, or skin rashes.

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As can be assumed from the listed symptoms of syphilis, there are a number of long term effects that can result from this sexually transmitted infection. Most of these symptoms occur as a result of the tertiary stage of the infection, which occurs due to lack of treatment. Even when treatment is administered, it may not be able to undo any damage that has already occurred. Some of the most severe long-term issues that can result from this STI include, arthritis, brain damage, and blindness.

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There are no home remedies or over-the-counter drugs that can cure syphilis. However, the bacterial infection is easy to cure with antibiotics in its early stages. The antibiotic that is often given in any of the stages of the infection to combat it is penicillin. Although syphilis can be curable during any of the three stages of the infection, the antibiotics may not be able to reverse any damage that has occurred prior to receiving treatment. The treatment will only prevent further damage.

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Syphilis is not transmitted by casual contact. It spreads from person to person by direct contact with a syphilitic sore, known as a chancre sore. Chancres can occur on or around the external genitals, in the vagina, around the anus, or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. Transmission of the infection can occur during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Syphilis can also be transmitted from mother to infant before birth.

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Syphilis is typically diagnosed with blood tests that detect antibodies. These tests can be performed at a clinic, doctor's office, or pharmacy. In addition, there are also a number of self-testing kits that allow you to test from home. These tests require only a few drops of blood. In addition to blood tests, dark-field microscopy is a form of testing. This method is less commonly used than blood testing because it requires highly skilled technicians. It is performed by taking a sample of body fluid (either a chancre sore or spinal tap) and looking at it under a microscope for visual evidence of the bacteria.