Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect anyone. It is important to be cautious as the symptoms can have long-term effects on one's life. In this article, we will discuss the causes of syphilis and ways to prevent it.

Causes of Syphilis:

Syphilis is caused by a bacterium called Treponema Pallidum. The virus spreads throughout the body and is transmitted through wounds and unprotected sexual contact with an infected person. However, it is not transmitted through secretions like other STDs.

Syphilis is transmitted from person to person through direct contact with a wound containing syphilis. The lesion can occur in external genitalia such as the vagina, anus, lips, and oral cavity. It can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. However, it cannot be transmitted through indirect contact, such as sharing clothes, cutlery, and swimming pools.

Stages of Syphilis:

Syphilis can be divided into four stages:

·       Early/Primary Syphilis: Patients will begin to have a chancre, a small wound in the affected area. The chancre is smooth, hard, and pointed, especially around the genitals and labia. These symptoms will begin about 3 weeks after being infected but may also be found during 10-90 days. Patients usually do not experience pain, and the wound will gradually disappear within 6 weeks without treatment. However, if left untreated, symptoms will progress to the secondary stage.

·       Secondary Stage: Symptoms develop from the early stage about 1-3 months. Patients will begin to have wart-like rashes on the palms and feet, genitals, or other parts of the body such as the groin, anus, inside the mouth, but without itching on the skin. Some patients may have sore throat, white patches in the mouth, fever, swollen lymph nodes, tiredness, muscle aches, weight loss, hair loss, or other symptoms. These symptoms usually go away without treatment within a few weeks, but they can also come back again.

·       Latent Syphilis: This period has no symptoms of the disease. However, patients will still have the bacteria in their body and can be detected by blood tests. The bacteria can be hidden in the body without showing any symptoms for many years and eventually enter the final stage.

·       Tertiary Syphilis: If the patients do not get the right treatment, it will cause the symptoms to spread to this stage. This will cause abnormalities and complications in the heart, brain, nerves, or various organs of the body when the infection is in that area. This will lead to diseases such as paralysis, blindness, dementia, deafness, sexual dysfunction, heart disease, loss of consciousness, and a risk of death.

Can Syphilis Be Transmitted from Mother to Child?

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum, can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her child both during pregnancy and childbirth. This form of transmission is called Congenital Syphilis, and it can be a serious infection that has the potential to be fatal. Here are some of the ways it can affect the baby:

·       Premature birth

·       Infant death in utero or death at birth

·       Abnormalities such as deafness, blindness, structural abnormalities like abnormal tooth structure or abnormal nose shape (known as syphilis nose or saddle nose, where the bridge of the nose is depressed), and abnormalities in the nervous system.

Fortunately, infections in this case can be detected and treated early using Penicillin, which can help reduce the risk of developing the symptoms mentioned above.

Diagnosis of Syphilis

Symptoms of syphilis are divided into four stages. To diagnose the disease, the doctor will ask for general information such as symptoms, abnormalities that occur with the patient, illness history, and sexual behavior, and perform a preliminary physical examination. The doctor or nurse will examine the genital area or other parts of the body to check whether there are any sores or abnormalities caused by syphilis before ordering additional tests from the laboratory, including:

·       Blood test: The aim is to detect infection in the patient's bloodstream. In some cases, the test results show that there is an infection, and a repeat test may be needed after the first test to confirm infection.

·       Swab Test: In case the patients have wounds or rashes on the body, the doctor may take a skin sample or lymph from the wound to send to the laboratory to check for the bacteria that cause syphilis.

Treatment of Syphilis

If the disease is detected, it should be treated early because there is still a chance that it can be cured without long-term complications. Antibiotics in the penicillin group can be used as the main medication. During the treatment, the doctor will advise the patients to refrain from having sex until cured because even if the patients have no symptoms, they can still spread the infection.

Possible Effects of Syphilis

If the infection is not treated immediately after detection, it can cause the symptoms to develop until the last stage where the infection has invaded various systems of the body and caused severe symptoms, such as:

·       Stroke

·       Meningitis

·       Paralysis

·       Heart disease

·       Abnormal vision

·       Dementia

·       Impotence

·       Insanity

·       Abnormal hearing

·       Risk of death

·       Higher chance of acquiring HIV compared to those without syphilis

It has also been studied that infection with syphilis is associated with arterial aneurysm and inflammation of the aorta, the main artery of the body, which can cause injury to the heart valves.

How to Prevent Syphilis Infection

Prevention is key when it comes to syphilis. Here are some ways to avoid getting infected:

·       Practice safe sex by using condoms correctly and consistently. Ensure that the condom covers any sores or lesions.

·       Avoid engaging in oral sex, as syphilis can be transmitted through mouth ulcers.

·       Seek medical treatment immediately if you suspect you have symptoms of syphilis.

·       Individuals with high-risk behaviors such as having multiple sexual partners should get regular blood tests to help prevent the spread of the disease.

·       Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to poor decision-making and unprotected sex.

·       Do not share drugs or needles with others.

Sex is an important part of our lives, and while it's important to enjoy it freely and safely, taking precautions to avoid infection is crucial. Krungthai-AXA life insurance customers who experience symptoms or adverse reactions can consult with a doctor online using the Krungthai-AXA Telehealth service. To access the service, simply download the Emma by AXA application and press the "TeleHealth" button. You will need to confirm your policy number the first time you use it. For more information, visit https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/telehealth

References

·       Sikarin Hospital

http://bitly.ws/Cg7s

·       Siriraj Hospital

http://bitly.ws/Cg7C

·       Samitivej Hospital

http://bitly.ws/Cg7D

·       Petcharavej Hospital

http://bitly.ws/Cg7T

·       Bumrungrad Hospital

http://bitly.ws/Cg7Y

·       Paolo Hospital

http://bitly.ws/Cg8d

·       Thai Medical Plus website

http://bitly.ws/Cg8h

·       Pobpad website

http://bitly.ws/Cg8k