Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease or infection which is caused by bacteria. If this disease is not treated, it will pass through the blood cells and can cause damage to the brain, nerves and body tissues. This disease can also be caused by the close physical contact. If in one person infection is active, one can see the symptoms of syphilis very easily.

Causes of Syphilis

This infection enters the body through the mucous membranes. Men get syphilis more than women.The causes are shown below in the list :

Transmission most often occurs when one person comes into contact with lesions on an infected person through sexual activity.
Men are more vulnerable to contracting syphilis than women.
The active disease is found most often among men and women aged 15-39 years.

Signs and Symptoms of Syphilis

The signs and symptoms of syphilis may occur in four stages is primary, secondary, latent and tertiary.

Primary stage - The primary phase usually starts with a sore at the site of infection. The sore or lesion is called a chancre (pronounced shanker ). This sore usually appears as a craterlike lesion on the male or female genitals, although any part of the body is at risk. Anyone who touches an infected sore can transmit the infection. This initial lesion develops 3-4 weeks after infection and heals spontaneously after 1 week. Though the sore goes away, the disease does not. It progresses into the secondary phase.

Secondary stage - After the chancre develops, the secondary phase develops for about 4-10 weeks. Secondary syphilis is caused when a person has a direct contact with the mucous membranes.

Various other symptoms of secondary phase are Fever.

Muscle aches
Headache
Joint pain
Sore throat

Latent stage - In which no symptoms are present - may follow the secondary stage. Signs and symptoms may never return, or the disease may progress to the tertiary stage.

Late (tertiary) stage - This disease is not detected and treated in the early stages, various problems can arise such as blindness , heart disorders , mental disorders and many other associated with the nervous system and it will result in death.

Diagnosis of Syphilis

A doctor can diagnose syphilis in a number of ways:

Recognizing its signs and symptoms and taking the correct tests.
Looking at the fluid from a syphilis sore or swollen lymph node under a microscope. This can only be done during primary and secondary syphilis when a patient has sores.
Testing the patient's blood.
VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory) test.
FTA-ABS (fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption) test.
RPR (rapid plasma regain) test.

Treatment of Syphilis

Syphilis is treated with penicillin or tetracycline drug at all stages. The dose and length of treatment depends on the stage of syphilis and symptoms of the disease. If a person can't take penicillin, another medicine may be available. But in late syphilis, damage already done to body organs cannot be reversed. You can get syphilis again after being cured if you are exposed to it. Taking antibiotics does not protect you from getting syphilis again.

Prevention Tips of Syphilis

The best ways to prevent Syphilis is :

The best way to prevent syphilis or any STD is to practice abstinence, or not having vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Self care should be taken to prevent from syphilis.
Use a male or female condom.
Condoms should be bought and stored.
All pregnant women should receive at least one prenatal blood test for syphilis.

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