Sexually Transmitted Infections
What Are They?
Syphilis
What is syphilis?
Syphilis is a bacterial STI that is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. It is generally a very rare STI, but it can cause serious and permanent damage to the body if it is not cured. In some rare cases, particularly where treatment is not available, syphilis infection can cause death.
Syphilis infection is very uncommon in Canada, but the number of cases is rising very quickly. From 1997 to 2004 the rate rose 908%, from 0.4 cases per 100,000 people to 3.9 cases per 100,000 people.1 These cases were mostly among men who have sex with men.
How do you get syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is passed along through anal, vaginal or oral sex. An infected pregnant woman can also pass along the infection to her unborn child.
Preventing syphilis
The best way to help prevent syphilis is to practice safer sex practices by using condoms each and every time you have sex. Condoms or dental dams can be used for protection during oral sex.
Symptoms
Untreated Syphilis infection can progress through four stages: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. It is most infectious in the first two stages, and does the most harm during the latent and tertiary stage. Syphilis produces a wide range of symptoms that mimic other illnesses. For this reason it has become known as "the great imitator", and is often very difficult to diagnose.
Syphilis produces different symptoms at each stage of infection. However, some people may not experience symptoms at all during some stages, and others may have some symptoms and not others. These people with few or no symptoms are still infectious, and can still progress to later stages of Syphilis infection.
As a person progresses from stage to stage, the symptoms of syphilis may go away without treatment. This does not mean that the infection is gone. A person may think that the infection has cleared on its own after symptoms disappear, but the infection will persist and long-term infection can cause serious and permanent damage to the heart, brain, bones or blood vessels.
Primary Infection Symptoms:
The main symptom of primary syphilis is a single open sore at the point of infection, typically on the genitals, anus or throat. This sore will typically appear Between 10 to 90 days after infection (21 days on average).
This sore will heal spontaneously in 3-8 weeks, but this does not mean that the syphilis infection is gone or that the person is no longer infectious. Because the sore is painless and heals on its own, some people may not seek treatment, and may even forget about the sore entirely after a while. If you develop this sore, it is very important to seek treatment.
Secondary Infection Symptoms:
Symptoms of secondary Syphilis generally occur three months after contracting the infection. They mimic flue symptoms and may include hair loss (including eyebrows and eyelashes), muscle and joint pain, rashes (particularly on the palms and soles of the feet), and fever and swollen glands. People with secondary syphilis may also generally feel unwell and you may lose weight.
Again, these symptoms will typically disappear on their own, but this does not mean that the person is no longer infected or that they are can no longer transmit the infection to others. Secondary symptoms usually lasts 3 to 12 weeks, but may persist for years until the infection moves into the latent stage. Once in the latent stage, a person may still have "relapses" in which secondary symptoms will reappear.
Latent Infection Symptoms:
After primary and secondary symptoms disappear, an infected person will enter a latent stage of syphilis, in which they will have no symptoms. However, this does not mean they are no longer infected, and in the early latent infection the person may still transmit the infection to others. During this time, the syphilis bacteria may continue to multiply and infect the body. A person in the latent stage may occasionally return to the symptoms of secondary infection. This latent stage may last for one year to 30 years.
Tertiary Infection Symptoms:
Tertiary syphilis occurs in 40% of untreated infected persons. This stage is very destructive. It is the stage at which the long-term damage caused by syphilis bacteria results in various major health complications. These complications can include major internal or external sores, serious cardiovascular and mental health problems, and damage to other organs such as the eyes and ears. In some cases, these complications can lead to death.
Testing
Syphilis testing is performed through a blood test, or by a swabbing from an infected sore.
Treatment
Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. Remember, a person can reacquire syphilis infection, so their partner(s) should also be tested.
Impact if not treated
Untreated Syphilis can cause potentially life-threatening complications, and permanent damage to the brain, heart, bones, and blood vessels. Sometimes, syphilis can cause mental disorders or neurological problems. In very rare cases, untreated syphilis infection can be fatal. Syphilis is curable with antibiotics but over time it can cause permanent damage to your health, so it's important to get tested for STIs if you are at high risk or if you are experiencing symptoms.
Pregnant women can pass syphilis on to their unborn children, and children infected with syphilis at birth or before have what is called congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis is very serious, and can cause serious medical complications or death.
Because Syphilis can cause lesions and sores on the genitals or anus, it increases the risk of HIV transmission.
Is it contagious?
Syphilis is most infectious during the primary and secondary stages, and can also be infectious during the early latent stage, particularly during relapses to secondary stage symptoms.
What to tell your partner
Syphilis is easily treatable, but the longer it goes untreated, the more harm it can cause. Your partner will need to be tested and/or treated immediately. It is very important to be honest with your sexual partners. The earlier your partner(s) know they may be infected the more likely they will be to avoid long-term health complications.
When can I have sex again?
You should not have sex again until you have been treated, your symptoms have disappeared, your tests for syphilis are negative and your health care provider informs you that you are no longer infectious. Your partner(s) should also be tested.
Last Modified: May 22, 2007
