Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease
• Skin to skin contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal or oral sex
• Kissing an open sore
Most women do not have symptoms and in men, if they do have any, they usually appear 3 weeks (on average) after infection and can include:
Primary Stage
• Painless sore on the genital area, mouth, lip
Secondary Stage
• Rash on hands, feet, and other areas of body
Late Stage
• Paralysis
• Numbnes
• Blindness
• Dementia
• Blood test
• Microscope test that examines material from infectious areas.
Syphilis is treated with an injection of an antibiotic.
The syphilis bacterium can infect the baby of a woman during her pregnancy. Depending on how long a pregnant woman has been infected, she may have a high risk of having a stillbirth (a baby born dead) or of giving birth to a baby who dies shortly after birth. An infected baby may be born without signs or symptoms of disease. However, if not treated immediately, the baby may develop serious problems within a few weeks. Untreated babies may become developmentally delayed, have seizures, or die.
