Download syphilis - The Washington Physicians Group

SYPHILIS
W ASHINGTON
PHYSICIAN
SERVICES
ORGANIZATION
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
MCMURRAY OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
104 Wellness Way
Building #2
Washington, PA 15301
724-225-3640 Phone
2001 Waterdam Plaza
Suite 201
McMurray, PA 15317
724-942-5420 Phone
WAYNESBURG
343 East Roy Furman Highway
Suite 104
Waynesburg, PA 15370
724-627-7928 Phone
MON VALLEY-CHARLEROI
1200 McKean Avenue
Charleroi, PA 15022
724-483-1340 Phone
www.WashingtonObGyn.net
What is syphilis?
Syphilis is a serious bacterial infection. It is usually passed from one person to another by sexual contact. If it is not
treated, syphilis can lead to permanent brain, nerve, and tissue damage.
How does it occur?
The bacteria that cause syphilis enter the body through an opening
such as the vagina, mouth, or rectum. They can also enter through
a cut or break in the skin.
During the early stages of syphilis, sores form on the body, usually
near the genitals. If you touch a sore on an infected person, some
of the bacteria will probably rub off onto your body. If the bacteria
then get near any moist area of your body (such as the vagina,
mouth, or rectum) or on any cuts or breaks in your skin, you may
get syphilis. Once inside the body, the bacteria spread quickly
through the bloodstream.
Sometimes a baby is born with syphilis if the mother has the
disease during pregnancy.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of syphilis vary according to the stage of the disease. During the first stage, smooth, red, painless sores
called chancres appear. People usually get chancres near the genitals, but they can form anywhere on the body. Women
may not know they have a chancre if it is inside the vagina. Chancres on the penis can usually be seen. These painless
sores may appear 10 days to 3 months after contact with an infected person. The sores last 3 to 6 weeks.
If you are infected with syphilis and you do not get treatment, the disease will develop into the second stage. This second
stage is called secondary syphilis. It begins 6 to 12 weeks after contact with an infected person and may last for weeks to
as long as a year. Symptoms during the second stage of syphilis can include:
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a pink or red, bumpy, scaling skin rash that does not itch and may come and go (you can easily infect other
people with this rash, which may include spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet)
brown sores about the size of a penny
swollen lymph nodes ("glands")
flu symptoms such as fever, body aches, sore throat, headaches, tiredness, and loss of appetite
hair loss in clumps causing patchy baldness
gray or pink patches of fatty tissue in damp areas of the body (also highly infectious)
wartlike growths in the anal area.
The rash in the second stage usually heals within several weeks or months. Often the second stage of syphilis is followed
by a latent period. During latent syphilis you have no symptoms even though you have not been treated for the disease.
This latent period may last a few years or it may last a lifetime.
● M. Zinsser, MD ● M. Sheth, MD ● K. Stocker, MD ● M. Wizda, MD ● J. D’Abarno, MD ●
● W. Mitsos, MD ● K. Simons, MD ● S. McNinch, CRNP ● S. Kowall, PA-C ●
Page 1 of 3
SYPHILIS
W ASHINGTON
PHYSICIAN
SERVICES
ORGANIZATION
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
MCMURRAY OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
104 Wellness Way
Building #2
Washington, PA 15301
724-225-3640 Phone
2001 Waterdam Plaza
Suite 201
McMurray, PA 15317
724-942-5420 Phone
WAYNESBURG
343 East Roy Furman Highway
Suite 104
Waynesburg, PA 15370
724-627-7928 Phone
MON VALLEY-CHARLEROI
1200 McKean Avenue
Charleroi, PA 15022
724-483-1340 Phone
www.WashingtonObGyn.net
One in three people who have latent syphilis develop the third stage of syphilis. This third stage is called tertiary syphilis
and starts anywhere from 2 to 30 or more years after the second stage. During this stage, the disease can affect the
brain, the aorta (the blood vessel that leads from the heart), and the heart. This can lead to severe heart disease, brain
damage, paralysis, and death.
How is it diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and examine you. Your provider will look for chancres on the skin,
including the vagina, cervix, penis, and anal area. If you have sores, scrapings from the sores will be examined under a
microscope to look for bacteria. Your provider may also test a sample of your blood.
How is it treated?
Syphilis is treated with shots or oral doses of penicillin. If you are allergic to penicillin, your healthcare provider may
prescribe other antibiotics. Because these medicines may not be as effective as penicillin, you will need to be rechecked
after treatment.
Cases of syphilis are required by law to be reported to the local health department. You must tell the proper authorities
about all the people with whom you have had sexual contact, so they can be protected against the effects of syphilis.
How long will the effects last?
The symptoms and effects of syphilis can last from a week to a lifetime. If syphilis is treated with antibiotics during an early
stage, the symptoms disappear after several weeks and the disease is cured. If the infection is not treated but becomes
latent after the first or second stage, you will not have any symptoms but you will be at risk of developing secondary or
tertiary syphilis. During the tertiary stage of syphilis, antibiotics can still be used to kill the bacteria causing the infection.
However, any damage already done to the blood vessels, brain, and other organs will remain.
How can I take care of myself?
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Follow your healthcare provider's instructions and take all of your medicine as prescribed. Be sure to tell your
provider if you are allergic to penicillin or other medicines.
Ask your provider if you need to be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases.
What can be done to help prevent syphilis?
If you have syphilis, you can help prevent spread of the infection if you:
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Tell everyone with whom you have had sex in the last 3 months about your infection. They must also be treated,
even if they have no symptoms. Do not have sex before both you and your partner have finished all of the
medicine and your provider says it is OK.
Do not expose other people to your body fluids and open sores. Do not have sexual intercourse or other intimate
physical contact with anyone until you have been treated.
Wash your hands after you use the toilet and before you touch any food, dishes, or utensils.
● M. Zinsser, MD ● M. Sheth, MD ● K. Stocker, MD ● M. Wizda, MD ● J. D’Abarno, MD ●
● W. Mitsos, MD ● K. Simons, MD ● S. McNinch, CRNP ● S. Kowall, PA-C ●
Page 2 of 3
SYPHILIS
W ASHINGTON
PHYSICIAN
SERVICES
ORGANIZATION
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
MCMURRAY OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
WASHINGTON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES
104 Wellness Way
Building #2
Washington, PA 15301
724-225-3640 Phone
2001 Waterdam Plaza
Suite 201
McMurray, PA 15317
724-942-5420 Phone
WAYNESBURG
343 East Roy Furman Highway
Suite 104
Waynesburg, PA 15370
724-627-7928 Phone
MON VALLEY-CHARLEROI
1200 McKean Avenue
Charleroi, PA 15022
724-483-1340 Phone
www.WashingtonObGyn.net
Even if you don't have symptoms but have had unprotected sex (without a condom), see your healthcare provider to be
checked for sexually transmitted diseases. If you have been sexually assaulted and are at risk for having been infected,
you should be treated.
You can reduce your risk of getting syphilis from someone else if you:
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Use latex or polyurethane condoms during foreplay and every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.
Have just 1 sexual partner who is not sexually active with anyone else. Make sure your partner has been tested
for syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Developed by Phyllis G. Cooper, RN, MN, and RelayHealth
Published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2007-03-29
Last reviewed: 2007-01-02
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and
educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Women's Health Advisor 2008.1 Index
Women's Health Advisor 2008.1 Credits
© 2008 RelayHealth and/or one of its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
● M. Zinsser, MD ● M. Sheth, MD ● K. Stocker, MD ● M. Wizda, MD ● J. D’Abarno, MD ●
● W. Mitsos, MD ● K. Simons, MD ● S. McNinch, CRNP ● S. Kowall, PA-C ●
Page 3 of 3