Syphilis Treatment

Unlike other types of sexually transmitted infections, there fortunately are syphilis treatment options. If caught early, syphilis treatments through the use of antibiotics can be successful in treating the infection and preventing it from causing more harm.

• Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is transferred through a bacteria called Treponema Pallidum. It can be called the “great imitator” because so many of the syphilis symptoms are like other diseases, which makes it difficult to distinguish.
• Syphilis is transferred from person to person during genital to genital or genital to mouth contact when there is direct contact with the syphilis sore, which can be found on the mouth, genital region, anus and rectum.
• However, syphilis is not able to be transferred through inanimate objects like toilet seats and door handles because the bacteria cannot survive outside a body.

• Sometimes symptoms never actually show, or take years to develop. However, traditional syphilis symptoms are usually divided into three stages.
• In the first stage, the infected person usually finds a sore around the genital area. This is where the syphilis entered the body. It can be small, round and firm and is not painful. It may heal on its own after a few weeks. However, if you allow it to heal on its own and do not seek treatment, the syphilis infection will progress to the next stage.
• In the second stage, a skin rash may develop across the body and might appear on the palms and bottoms of the feet.
• Latent symptoms: If syphilis is still not treated after the second stage, other symptoms will arise. However, this can happen years after the infection typically about 10 to 20 years. These symptoms can include fever, swollen glands, paralysis, gradual loss of eye sight and dementia. Sometimes these syphilis symptoms are severe enough to be fatal.

• If caught early on, the syphilis infection can be easily treated. In individuals who have had the infection for less than a year, a single intramuscular injection of penicillin will cure the infection.
• However, syphilis treatment for those who have been infected for more than a year will require additional doses of the penicillin antibiotic.
• For those allergic to penicillin, alternate antibiotic syphilis treatments are available.
• There are no at-home solutions or over-the-counter medications available for syphilis treatment.
• Keep in mind that proper syphilis treatment will successfully cure the infection, but it will not repair any other damage previously caused by the disease internally or externally.
• Frequent syphilis testing (especially for men who have sex with other men) is a vital way to ensure early and fast treatment if you do contract the disease.
• Sexually active teens and adults should be careful to abstain from sex until the syphilis treatment is complete and the sores have healed.
• Inform any current sexual partners if you are infected so they can make sure and get tested and seek treatment.

• Sexually active teens should remember that just because an infected person may not show any symptoms they can still transfer the syphilis infection because the sore may not be noticeable enough to realize it is there.
• Teenagers who are having teen sex outside of a monogamous relationship with at least one or multiple partners,  should remember that just because there are no visible symptoms, it does not mean their partner(s) is not infected.
• The only way a person can ever 100 percent avoid contracting syphilis or any other type of sexually transmitted disease is to completely abstain from sexual acts or any kind of contact that might expose them to a syphilis sore.
• Using a latex condom might help reduce the risk of contracting syphilis, however, it condoms may not always protect against certain areas like the mouth or around the genital or anus, which is where the syphilis sore may be located.