Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by bacteria. Syphilis can be spread from person to person during vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Symptoms
There are 3 stages to syphilis infection.
- The first signs of syphilis appear a few weeks after exposure and include a red sore or sores around the point of entry (body part where sex took place). The sore(s), also called a chancre, may appear on your mouth if you performed oral sex or your anus if you had anal sex. After a few weeks the sores will disappear.
- You may experience a rash which can appear on the palms of your hands, soles of your feet or all over your body. Flu-like like symptoms often accompany the rash. After the symptoms of second stage syphilis disappear, the syphilis will enter into a dormant state. You may go several years without symptoms and feel completely fine.
- Tertiary syphilis: during this stage the syphilis spreads to your body’s internal organs and can even lead to death. It is very rare for people to die of syphilis in countries where the treatment is easily accessed.
Transmission
You can only pass syphilis on to other people during the first and second stages, after which you can no longer give it to others but it can still cause harm to you.
Testing
The only way to know if you have syphilis is to get a blood test. Follow up blood tests are given after treatment to make sure you are cured.
If you have syphilis, all of your sex partners must be tested and treated too. You can choose either to tell partners yourself, or have the Public Health Unit tell them without mentioning your name.
Treatment
Syphilis can be treated and cured with antibiotics; however, if left untreated, syphilis can cause serious damage. It can also be passed to your baby during childbirth.
For more information on syphilis contact your local health care practitioner, member of Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, sexual health clinic or Public Health Department.
