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Syphilis
is an infectious disease caused by bacteria which penetrates
broken skin or mucous membranes on the penis or the vaginal
parts. It may also infect the mucus membranes of the mouth.
Transmission occurs most frequently by sexual
contact. Syphilis can also be transferred to the unborn baby
via the placenta after the 10th week of pregnancy.
Syphilis has 3 stages. In the primary stage,
painless sores called chancres appear 10 days to 6 weeks after
exposure, and can disappear on their own. The secondary stage
can begin a week to 6 months after the primary stage. A skin
rash is the hallmark of this stage, and lesions may appear
again. The lesions are very infectious in this stage. A third
phase follows during which no symptoms are present, but syphilis
can be diagnosed by blood tests.
If the disease has not been effectively treated,
bacteria can continue to invade the body, and there will be
a relapse. In this phase, there is a widespread infection
that infects the internal organs, bones, the heart, and the
brain. Approximately 30,000 cases of syphilis in adults are
reported each year in the United States. Congenital syphilis
occurs in 1:10,000 live births. Transplacental (from mother
to fetus) transmission of syphilis can result in stillbirth.
The risk of transmission to the fetus in untreated primary
or secondary syphilis is approximately 100%.
Treatment is usually 100% effective and results
in a cure with simple antibiotics from your neighborhood doctor.
Syphilis is not an old fashion disease. It
is very popular today. Syphilis is curable, but silent and
infects all organs of the body. You may have no symptoms until
later in life when it has done damage to your brain and heart
Unsure of your Exposure?
Call
1-800-456-9913 to speak to one of our counselors
and to schedule both the Elisa and the DNA PCR test at a location
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