Syphilis

Diagnosis

This is one of the easily diagnosed disease. Based on clinical symptoms sample can be tested from the chancre or lesions under the microscope. There are several other test which can confirm the presence of the infection and all of them needs a blood sample. Some of these tests are VDRL test and rapid plasma reagin test (RPR),enzyme immunoassay (EiA) test for anti-treponemal igG, T. pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA), fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption test (FTA-abs), and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Treatment

Treatment of syphilis is easy and penicillin is the drug of choice which cures the syphilis.

Prevention

Avoid contact with infected tissue and body fluids of an infected person. A mutually monogamous sex with an uninfected partner is the best way to prevent syphilis. Using condoms properly and consistently during sexual intercourse reduces the risk of getting syphilis but does not eliminate the risk.

During the sessions of sex therapy it is a good idea to inform patients about the some of the complications of STD which may lead to sexual dysfunctions. A suggestion of mutual faithful monogamous relationship may take care of several of the problems.

Complications

A person infected with syphilis is two to five times more likely to acquire HIV infection if he/she is exposed to the HIV virus. Untreated syphilis results in a high-risk pregnancy. Syphilis can cause miscarriages, premature births, stillbirths, congenital syphilis or death of newborn babies.

Untreated babies with congenital syphilis can have deformities, delays in development, or seizures, along with many other problems such as rash, fever, swollen liver and spleen, anemia, and jaundice. Sores on infected babies are infectious. Sometime infants can develop the symptoms of late-stage syphilis, including damage to their bones, teeth, eyes, ears, and brains if not treated on time and properly.

Several people can develop neurological disorder including Stroke, infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), Poor muscle coordination, Numbness, Paralysis, Deafness or visual problems, Personality changes, Dementia.

There are some cardiovascular complications which develop in very late stage of the disease if left untreated. These may include bulging (aneurysm) and inflammation of the aorta, a major artery and of other blood vessels. Syphilis may also cause valvular heart disease, such as aortic valve stenosis.

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