What happens if you have syphilis

During this time, the body will harbor the disease without symptoms. However, the T. Doctors still recommend treating syphilis at this stage, even if symptoms do not occur. Tertiary syphilis can occur 10—30 years after the onset of the infection, usually after a period of latency during which there are no symptoms. Organ damage means that tertiary syphilis can often lead to death. Treating syphilis before it reaches this stage is, therefore, critical. Neurosyphilis is a condition that develops when T.

It often has links to latent and tertiary syphilis. However, it can occur at any time after the primary stage. A person with neurosyphilis may be asymptomatic for a long time. Alternatively, symptoms might develop gradually. Symptoms include :. Congenital syphilis is severe and frequently life threatening. Adverse outcomes include early fetal or neonatal death, preterm birth or low birth weight, and infection in infants. In , the World Health Organization WHO confirmed Cuba as the first country in the world to have entirely eradicated congenital syphilis.

Learn how to recognize different STDs here. Anyone who is worried that they might have syphilis or another sexually transmitted infection STI should speak to a doctor as soon as possible, as prompt treatment can cure it. Early treatment with penicillin is important, as the disease can lead to life threatening consequences in the long term.

At a later stage, syphilis remains curable. However, a person may require a longer course of penicillin. If nerve or organ damage occurs during the later stages of syphilis, treatment will not repair it. The treatment strategy will depend on the symptoms and how long a person has harbored the bacteria.

However, during the primary, secondary, or tertiary stage, people with syphilis will typically receive an intramuscular injection of penicillin G benzathine. Neurosyphilis requires intravenous IV penicillin every 4 hours for 2 weeks to remove the bacteria from the central nervous system. Print Version pdf icon. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if it is not treated. Syphilis is divided into stages primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary.

There are different signs and symptoms associated with each stage. You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can find sores on or around the penis, vagina, or anus, or in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth. Syphilis can spread from an infected mother to her unborn baby.

Syphilis is divided into stages primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary , with different signs and symptoms associated with each stage. A person with primary syphilis generally has a sore or sores at the original site of infection. These sores usually occur on or around the genitals, around the anus or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. These sores are usually but not always firm, round, and painless.

Symptoms of secondary syphilis include skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, and fever. The signs and symptoms of primary and secondary syphilis can be mild, and they might not be noticed. During the latent stage , there are no signs or symptoms. Tertiary syphilis is associated with severe medical problems. A doctor can usually diagnose tertiary syphilis with the help of multiple tests. It can affect the heart, brain, and other organs of the body. If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting syphilis:.

Any sexually active person can get syphilis through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for syphilis or other STDs. If left untreated, the disease last for years and can cause serious health problems. Syphilis is divided into four stages. Early syphilis consists of primary syphilis, secondary syphilis and early latent syphilis, while late syphilis consists of late latent syphilis and tertiary syphilis.

In the Region of the Americas there were around new cases of syphilis among females, and new cases among males in , adding to the already around 1 million existing cases for females and existing cases for males. In the Region of the Americas, there were an estimated 24 cases of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis in You can get syphilis by having direct sexual contact with infectious sores chancre on the genitals, anus, rectum, lips or mouth through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has syphilis.

You can still get syphilis even if you had it in the past and got treatment for it. Sexual transmission typically occurs during primary, secondary or early latent stage infections. Syphilis can also be spread via blood transfusions.

Correct and consistent use of condoms significantly decreases the risk of infection. If the sores occur in an area not covered by the condom transmission can still occur. It may be possible to catch syphilis if you inject yourself with drugs and you share needles with somebody who's infected, or through blood transfusions , but this is very rare in the UK as all blood donations are tested for syphilis.

Syphilis cannot be spread by using the same toilet, clothing, cutlery or bathroom as an infected person. Find out more about syphilis in pregnancy. Syphilis cannot always be prevented, but if you're sexually active you can reduce your risk by practising safer sex:. These measures can also reduce your risk of catching other sexually transmitted infections STIs. If you inject yourself with drugs, do not use other people's needles or share your needles with others.

If a woman becomes infected while she's pregnant, or becomes pregnant when she already has syphilis, it can be very dangerous for her baby if not treated.