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What is it? The syphilis organism — "spirochete" — can remain in the body for life and lead to disfigurement, neuralgic disorder, or death. Reported cases of syphilis in the U.S. has dropped to 70,000 because of effective antibiotics and increased condom use. Syphilis is especially contagious when sores are present early in the disease — the liquid that oozes from them is very infectious. People are usually not contagious during the latent phases of the first four years of syphilis infections. Untreated syphilis remains latent for many years or a lifetime, but can be spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus. The effect of syphilis on a fetus is very serious. If untreated, the risks of stillbirth or serious birth defects are high. Birth defects include damage to the heart, brain, and skeleton as well as blindness. It is very important for pregnant women to consider testing for syphilis early, and, sometimes, throughout their pregnancies. Pregnant women with syphilis can be treated to prevent damage to the fetus. Condoms offer very good protection during vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse. Testing for syphilis is done by blood tests, microscopic examination of fluid from sores or examination of spinal fluid.
How is it spread? Syphilis is spread through vaginal, anal and oral intercourse with an infected person. Kissing can also spread syphilis. It is possible for a woman to pass syphilis to the fetus during pregnancy. Syphilis has several phases that may overlap one another. They do not always follow in the same sequence. Symptoms vary with each phase, but there are no symptoms most of the time.
Primary Phase: Painless sores or open, wet ulcers — chancres — often appear from three weeks to 90 days after infection. They last three to six weeks. They appear on the genitals, in the vagina, on the cervix, lips, mouth, or anus. Swollen glands may also occur during the primary phase.
Secondary Phase: Other symptoms often appear from three to six weeks after the sores appear. They may come and go for up to two years. They include body rashes that last from two to six weeks — often on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. There are many other symptoms, including: mild fevers, fatigue, sore throat, hair loss, weight loss, swollen glands, headache, and muscle pains.
Latent Phase: No symptoms. Latent phases occur between other phases or can overlap them.
Late Phase: One-third of untreated people with syphilis experience serious damage to the nervous system, heart, brain, or other organs and death may result.
How is it treated? Antibiotic treatment is successful for both partners — but damage caused by the disease in the later phases cannot be undone.
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