What Causes Syphilis?
What is Syphilis?
Treponema pallidum is the bacteria that causes syphilis. Syphilis is a highly contagious infection and is frequently transmitted by unprotected sexual intercourse. It can also be transmitted by an infected pregnant mother to her child leading to serious congenital physical and mental problems. Stages of syphilis are divided into four, the primary stage, secondary stage, latent stage and tertiary stage.
Syphilis in its primary stage is characterized by a chancre, which is a small lesion, that appears at the infected site within several weeks from exposure. One to two months after the chancre appeared, syphilis then enters the secondary stage wherein rash appears in the entire body. Painless ulcerated sores in the mouth often develop and broad lesions in the genital area appear. The infected person also manifest with high fever, muscle pains, headache and enlarged lymph nodes. These symptoms typically come and go during the first two years.
After which, syphilis enters its latent stage. This is often asymptomatic, and affected individuals are often not capable of transmitting the disease to others. The latent stage is the longest phase of the disease process that can last up to 30 years before it enters the tertiary stage.
About 30% of patients who had secondary syphilis may proceed to develop tertiary syphilis which manifests as damage to the bones, liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels. Distinct characteristic of this stage is the development of gummas or hard nodules in the mucous membrane and underlying tissues of the skin and internal organs. The bacteria can also attack the nervous system causing neurologic disorders and mental illness.
What Causes Syphilis?
What causes syphilis is the T. pallidum bacterium. The modes of transmission of the bacteria include unsafe sexual contact, blood transfusion and transplacental infection. Kissing may also become a mode of transmission if there are mouth sores present in both individuals.
Sexual contact is generally the foremost mode of transmission. Infants can acquire syphilis in two ways. One, while they are inside the uterus, and two, at the time of delivery. Among the two, the former is the major cause of congenital syphilis. The bacteria may not be able to cross the barrier for milk production, but breastfeeding can transmit the disease if there are lesions in the mother’s breast.
What are the Treatment and Prevention fo Syphilis?
Antibiotics are often prescribed for patients diagnosed with syphilis. Unfortunately, only a few infected individuals seek medical intervention because symptoms of the primary stage are often mild.
To prevent being infected by the bacteria, the use of barrier method such as condom, abstinence or observing one-partner rule for sexual activities are often recommended. Infected individuals are also advised not to engage in any sexual act until they finish their treatment.
References
Health Newsflash: Syphilis Fact Book
emedicinehealth: Syphilis
