Syphilis treating and curing tips

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a type of bacteria known

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a type of bacteria known as Treponema pallidum. In 2013, more than 56,400 cases of syphilis were reported in the United States. The rate of women infected with syphilis has been declining in the United States, but the rate among men, particularly homosexual men, has been rising. The first sign of syphilis is a small, painless sore. It can appear on your sexual organs, rectum, or inside your mouth. This sore is called a chancre. People often fail to notice it right away. Syphilis can be challenging to diagnose. You can be infected without showing any symptoms for years. However, the earlier you discover the infection, the better. Syphilis that remains untreated for a long time can cause major damage to important organs, like the heart and brain. Syphilis is only spread through direct contact with syphilitic chancres. It can’t be transmitted by sharing a toilet with another person, wearing another person’s clothing, or using another person’s eating utensils.

Stages of Syphilis Infection

The four stages of syphilis are: primary secondary latent tertiary Syphilis is most infectious in the first two stages. When syphilis is in the hidden, or latent, stage, the disease remains active but often with no symptoms and is not contagious to others. Tertiary syphilis is the most destructive to your health.

Primary Syphilis

The primary stage of syphilis occurs about three to four weeks after you’re infected with the bacteria. It begins with a small, round sore called a chancre. A chancre is painless, but it’s highly infectious. This sore may appear wherever the bacteria entered your body, such as on or inside your mouth, genitals, or rectum. On average, the sore shows up around three weeks after infection, but it can take between 10 and 90 days to appear. The sore remains for anywhere between two to six weeks. Syphilis is transmitted by direct contact with a sore. This usually occurs during sexual activity, including oral sex.

Secondary Syphilis

During the second stage of syphilis, you may experience skin rashes and a sore throat. The rash won’t itch and is usually found on your palms and soles, but it may occur anywhere on the body. Some people don’t notice the rash before it goes away. Other symptoms of secondary syphilis may include: headaches swollen lymph glands fatigue fever weight loss hair loss aching joints These symptoms will go away whether or not you receive treatment. However, without treatment you’ll still be infected. Secondary syphilis is often mistaken for another condition.

Latent Syphilis

The third stage of syphilis is the latent or hidden stage. The primary and secondary symptoms disappear, and you won’t have any noticeable symptoms at this stage. However, you will still be infected with syphilis. The secondary symptoms can reappear, or you could remain in this stage for years before progressing to tertiary syphilis.

Treating and Curing Syphilis

Primary and secondary syphilis are easy to treat with a penicillin injection. Penicillin is one of the most widely used antibiotics and is usually effective in treating syphilis. People who are allergic to penicillin will likely be treated with a different oral antibiotic, such as doxycycline, azithromycin, or ceftriaxone. If you have neurosyphilis, you’ll get daily doses of penicillin intravenously. This will often require a brief hospital stay. Unfortunately, the damage caused by late syphilis can’t be reversed. The bacteria can be killed, but treatment will most likely focus on easing pain and discomfort. During your treatment, make sure to avoid sexual contact until all sores on your body are healed and your doctor tells you it’s safe to resume sex. If you’re sexually active, your partner should be treated as well. You shouldn’t resume sexual activity until both of your treatments are complete.