Syphilis

Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. It is not particularly common in the UK and most cases occur in men who have sex with men.

Syphilis can infect almost any part of the body. The most common signs are ulcers on the genitals, near the anus or inthe mouth, a generalised skin rashes (affecting the chest and trunk) and swollen lymph glands in the groin or neck. Sometimes syphilis produces no symptoms and the infection is only discovered when a blood test is performed which is why all pregnant women are offered syphilis testing as a normal part of antenatal care.

A person is infected with syphilis through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or by skin-to-skin contact with ulcers or weeping rashes. An infected mother can transmit syphilis to her unborn baby Syphilis cannot be caught by hugging, sharing baths or towels, from swimming pools, toilet seats or sharing cups, plates or cutlery

Symptoms may occur as early as a week after infection but sometimes it takes many months before the person notices a problem.

Syphilis can be diagnosed by clinical examination, if symptoms are present, and confirmed by a skin ulcer swaband/or blood test.

Syphilis is curable and easy to treat with the antibiotics such as penicillin (given by injection) or doxycycline (given orally). Occasionally treatment causes a person to feel unwell (e.g with a headache and aching muscles) and/or a high temperature within 12 hours of the start of treatment which settles within a few hours with or without the help of paracetamol. This is called the Jarisch Herxheimer reaction (JHR).

Current sexual partner(s) and sexual partners from the past 3-6 months will need to be tested and treated accordingly. You must not have sex again until you and your current partner(s) have been treated.

Untreated, syphilis can infect the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and nerves) as well as the heart causing health complications to develop many years later. Adequate treatment prevents these complications.

The syphilis blood tests is repeated after completion of treatment to ensure the infection has been eradicated. However, having syphilis once gives no protection against re-infection from untreated partners or partners who don’t realise they are infected with syphilis. Testing of all partners is essential.