Dangerous sexually transmitted disease: What you need to know about syphilis

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Syphilis is one of the notifiable diseases in Switzerland. The number of new infections has constantly increased since 2006, when the reporting obligation was introduced. What is striking about the statistics is that more men than women are affected. The sexually transmitted disease is most common in people living in areas around Geneva and Zurich.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The disease can be transmitted through various sexual practices, such as oral-vaginal or anal intercourse, with an infected person who is already in the infectious stage.

It is also possible to become infected through blood contact or blood transfusion. However, it rarely occurs in this country, as does transmission from a pregnant woman to an unborn child.

The most important point of syphilis is that it often has no symptoms. More precisely, every second person. If left untreated, the disease progresses in three stages.

The first symptoms appear after a week to three months. These may be red spots, bumps, or ulcers at the entry point for bacteria. If the spots appear in the anus, vagina or throat, they are usually not noticed because they do not hurt. Additionally, symptoms disappear again after four to six weeks, even without treatment. However: Disease and contagion continue.

The first stage is more or less followed by the second stage. It is usually characterized by a non-itchy rash. This usually occurs on the palms and soles of the feet. You may also experience flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, hair loss, and other symptoms. These symptoms disappear on their own without requiring treatment.

Then symptoms do not appear for months or years. However, the disease progresses silently. During the first year of this phase, affected individuals may occasionally experience damage to their skin and mucous membranes and are therefore still potentially infectious.

Syphilis is diagnosed using a smear or blood test. Treatment is with an antibiotic. This therapy is proven and successful in the vast majority of cases.

If you have been diagnosed with syphilis, it is important to inform your sexual partner. In this way, you can also get tested. It is also worth noting that the incubation period lasts up to three months. During this time, it is possible for the test to come back negative even if you are infected.

Source : Blick