Syphilis STD Testing

Syphilis Facts

• Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• Can cause infections in men, women, and unborn babies during pregnancy
• Syphilis has been called "The Great Imitator" as many symptoms resemble other diseases.
• Symptoms include painless sores called a chancres that may appear on the genitals, lips, anus, or other area of contact
• Chancres typically appear three weeks after exposure at the spot where the syphilis bacteria entered the body.
• Syphilis is CURABLE with antibiotics
• If untreated, the disease will progress through four consecutive stages with increased risk and health complications.

Description: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Treponema palladium and is spread through broken skin or mucous membranes. Syphilis is also referred to as "the great imitator" since many of the traditional symptoms are similar to other diseases. If untreated, the disease will progress through four consecutive stages with increased risk and health complications.

Stats: Highest rates of Syphilis occur in people between the ages of 20-39.
Syphilis rates have increased by 12% during the last eight years.

Exposure: Syphilis is transmitted through skin contact with the sores (chancres, lesions, rash), which are usually found on the genitals or rectum. This means it can be transmitted during anal and oral sex, as well as by genital rubbing. Latex condoms help prevent the transmission of syphilis, but don't completely prevent it because the sores could be in places the condom doesn't cover.
Syphilis can also be transmitted by skin contact with the second stage rash, which is often found on the hands or feet, but can appear anywhere on the body.

Incubation: 10-90 days (average 21 days)

Syphilis Symptoms

The symptoms of syphilis often go unnoticed. There are four stages of syphilis: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. Each stage has its own set of symptoms.

Primary Syphilis - occurs 10 to 90 days after infection.

During this stage of syphilis, a single or multiple sores (called chancres) appear at the location where Syphilis entered your body - most frequently in the mouth, anus, penis, vagina or cervix. The sore is characterized as small, round, firm and is usually painless. It will last for three to six weeks and will then heal without treatment as the bacteria become dormant (inactive) in your system. About 33% of those who do not have their primary syphilis treated will develop the secondary Syphilis.

Secondary Syphilis- occurs 4 to 10 weeks after primary infection.

This stage typically starts with the appearance of a rash on one or more areas of the body, including rough, reddish brown spots on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet. Other types of rashes may occur on other parts of the body, including some that are so faint that they are not noticed. Other symptoms of secondary syphilis can include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue. Secondary Syphilis symptoms will likely disappear without treatment as the bacteria become dormant (inactive) again in your system.

Latent syphilis - occurs 1+ year after secondary syphilis

This stage typically has no noticeable symptoms, but the body is still infected. If syphilis is not treated during this stage it may remain latent for life, or it can develop into tertiary syphilis.

Tertiary syphilis - occurs 3-15 years after initial infection

Tertiary syphilis develops in about one third (1/3) of all people with untreated latent syphilis. During this stage, the bacteria can spread to and damage almost any part of your body including your heart, brain, spinal cord, eyes and bones. This damage can happen years or even decades after the primary stage. Late syphilis can result in mental illness, blindness, deafness, neurological problems, heart disease and death.