How common is syphilis?Syphilis has been on the rise in the last few years. In the last 10 years there has been a big rise in new infections. It's more common among those with lots of sex partners.
In the United States, the CDC reported over 36,000 cases of syphilis in 2006, including 9,756 cases of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis. In 2006, most P&S syphilis cases occurred in persons 20 to 39 years of age. The incidence of P&S syphilis was highest in men 35 to 39 years of age. P&S rates have increased in males each year between 2000 and 2006. In 2006, 64% of the reported P&S syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men (MSM). Over the past several years, increases in syphilis among MSM have been reported in various cities. While the health problems caused by syphilis in adults are serious in their own right, it is now known that the genital sores caused by syphilis in adults also make it easier to transmit and acquire HIV infection sexually.  What causes syphilis?Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which live in warm, moist parts of the body such as the inside of the mouth, anus and penis. It's easy to pick up and easy to pass on. It has often been called “the great imitator” because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases. Many men remain untreated because they don't know they have it and pass it to others.
What are the symptoms of syphilis?The disease follows three stages, each with its own symptoms. But symptoms of syphilis don't always show. Many men diagnosed with syphilis never realized they had it until they got tested.
First Stage (Primary Syphilis) * Two to four weeks after getting infected a painless red sore (known as a chancre - pronounced 'shanker') can appear either on your penis or in your mouth, throat or anus (butt). It will heal and go away. * The glands nearest to the sore (in the neck or groin) may swell up. Second Stage (Secondary Syphilis) * Weeks or a few months later a body rash can appear, often on your palms of your hands or soles of your feet. You might also get a fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, feel tired or or feel ill. * You may get warty growths around your anus (butt), or ulcers or grey patches of skin in your mouth or on your penis. Third Stage (Tertiary Syphilis/Latent/Hidden Stage) * In the late stages of syphilis, the disease may damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. Signs and symptoms of the late stage of syphilis include difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, and dementia. This damage may be serious enough to cause death. Syphilis is usually spotted before this third stage and is very rare. |
How is syphilis passed on?You can get syphilis by coming into contact with the sores of the first stage or skin rash of the second stage.
Unless treated syphilis can be passed on for up to two years through unprotected: * Anal sex: topping or bottoming * Oral sex: sucking or being sucked * Rimming (Oral-anal sex) * Fingering * Fisting * Masturbating (giving someone a hand job) with blisters on their penis or in their anal canal (butt) Syphilis cannot be spread through contact with toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils. How is syphilis prevented?Using a condom for anal and oral sex prevents contact with the infectious sores or skin rashes on someone's penis or in their anal canal (butt) or mouth. But this doesn't guarantee protection as syphilis bacteria will be in any sore or rash not covered by the condom.
Touching the rash or sores should be avoided. Latex gloves for fisting will stop contact with sores in someone's butt. The surest way to prevent syphilis is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with only one sex partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected. Avoiding alcohol and drug use may also help prevent transmission of syphilis because these activities may lead to risky sexual behavior. It is also important that you have good communication with your sex partners. Remember that syphilis is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Therefore, even using a condom does not protect you from syphilis if the condom does not cover the sore or the area on the skin where the virus is located. How is syphilis treated?Clinics usually check everyone's blood for syphilis by performing a blood test. And if there's a sore, fluid from the sore is tested.
Syphilis is easy to cure in its early stages. A single injection of penicillin, an antibiotic, will cure a person who has had syphilis for less than a year. Additional doses are needed to treat someone who has had syphilis for longer than a year. For people who are allergic to penicillin, other antibiotics are available to treat syphilis. There are no home remedies or over-the-counter drugs that will cure syphilis. Treatment will kill the syphilis bacterium and prevent further damage, but it will not repair damage already done. Because treatment is available, it is important that persons be screened for syphilis on an on-going basis if their sexual behaviors put them at risk for STDs. Persons who receive syphilis treatment must abstain from sexual contact with new partners until the syphilis sores are completely healed. Persons with syphilis must notify their sex partners so that they also can be tested and receive treatment if necessary. Once treated, a blood test checks that the syphilis has been cured. No one is immune to syphilis. If you have had it before, you can get it again.  Syphilis is caused by the bacterium 'Treponema pallidum' |
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Tests: Find places where you can get free HIV/STD testing in Wake County.
Condoms: Find places where you can get free condoms in Wake County.
For general information about Wake County’s HIV/STD program and testing, please call 919-250-3950.
Do you have questions about HIV/STDs that you want answered? E-mail questions to: std.program@wakegov.com
To see all other resources in Wake County, North Carolina & the United States, CLICK HERE to return to our resources and links page.
Condoms: Find places where you can get free condoms in Wake County.
For general information about Wake County’s HIV/STD program and testing, please call 919-250-3950.
Do you have questions about HIV/STDs that you want answered? E-mail questions to: std.program@wakegov.com
To see all other resources in Wake County, North Carolina & the United States, CLICK HERE to return to our resources and links page.
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