One type of sexually transmitted disease is syphilis, and is caused by a bacteria. Once they are infected, the will start to feel symptoms within the next few weeks. What will appear are painless ulcers called chancres. This would be a distinction from painful ulcers formed by herpes virus. The chancre is a sign of the first stage of syphilis. If this is untreated syphilis the disease can progress causing secondary and tertiary syphilis.
As described syphilis can progress, and the next stage is secondary syphilis. What will be seen here is a rash, lymph nodes that become enlarged, and lesions of the mucous membrane.
If this disease is progressed even further, tertiary syphilis is now present. Here, this is a very serious situation because organs like the heart and nervous system are affected. Some people may present with paralysis due to this.
The diagnosis of syphilis in the early stages is with a sample from the exudate of the lesion or chancre. The bacteria can be seen under microscope. Blood samples are also taken. If someone has infection of the spinal cord, a sample of the spinal fluid must be taken in tertiary syphilis.
Treatment for syphilis is straightforward as it only takes one or more injections of penicillin. This is dependent on the stage. People who are allergic to penicillin have alternative antibiotics to take. This antibiotic is a very commonly used medicine which is readily available.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease which if treated early is a very curable disease. However, if a patient does not get treatment, there are negative effects which can harm the patient. It may cause severe damage to such organs like the eye, heart, and nervous system. There is effective treatment with the antibiotic penicillin, and patients should see their doctor when they first see the lesions called chancres.
Get STD testing to diagnose if you have untreated syphilis. Syphilis is completely curable. Don’t wait. Get a confidential test at a convenient testing center near you.