Overcoming Stigma! The Modern Way To Treat an Age-Old Epidemic Called Syphilis

Be Safe, Not Sorry! What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?

The real epidemic is the shame, not the infection. This is because sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are masked by shame and blame, and not the germs causing them. This widespread dishonor, along with negative views of our society on sexuality, is the real issue, causing a lot of harm. It tricks the affected individual into a dangerous cycle of embarrassment and fear, prompting them to avoid getting tested and treated and to hide their conditions from not only friends and family but also a doctor or a healthcare professional.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a form of infection that is passed on from one individual to another by sexual contact. This includes vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and in some cases, close skin-to-skin contact. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by many types of microorganisms, namely bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These infections affect a large portion of the population worldwide every year and most often lead to more health problems elsewhere in the body. Some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cause the most obvious signs, such as itching, unusual discharge, sores, and pain when passing urine. Also, in some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), absolutely no symptoms are depicted, thus termed as asymptomatic. Long-term problems due to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) include infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pain, certain cancers, and increased chances of getting an HIV infection.

To control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from one affected individual to another, prevention is the most useful method. Constantly using condoms, limiting the number of sexual partners, regular testing, and frankly communicating with your partner reduce the risk of getting an infection to a large extent. Vaccines are available for some infections, but not all of them. Early identification is quite essential, followed by treatment, as many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are completely cured by medications.

Common examples of these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) include Syphilis, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Human papillomavirus (HPV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV), and Trichomoniasis.

Understanding Syphilis, A Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)

Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium known as Treponema pallidum. Treponema pallidum is a spiral-shaped bacterium that moves through any tissue by twisting its corkscrew-like body. Once Treponema pallidum enters the body, it rapidly travels from one place to another through the blood and lymphatic system, reaching different organs.

Other infections commonly show signs of infection after some time. But Treponema pallidum can be inactive in the body for a long time. This makes Syphilis an extremely dangerous infection, as the affected individual might think he is completely healthy, while the bacterium inside the body continues to harm.

Doctors and professionals also call Syphilis The Great Imitator, as Syphilis copies the symptoms of many other diseases, namely, different types of viral infections like chickenpox and mpox, bacterial infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancers.

Revealing Syphilis! Its Causes and Transmission

The only known cause of syphilis is the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is a very weak organism that cannot survive for a long period of time outside the human body. This is the reason for the spread of infection only through direct intimate contact.

Syphilis usually spreads in many ways, with the most common being through sexual contact. But, in pregnant women with syphilis, the newborn child, in some rare cases, also gets the infection.

Transmission by sexual contact happens if an individual directly comes into contact with a sore called a chancre during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and by kissing an infected individual with a syphilis sore. This generally happens due to unprotected sex and not using a condom, especially if the individual has multiple sexual partners with no known history of previous infections. Also, the risk of getting a syphilis infection is considerably increased if the individual is already suffering from other sexually transmitted diseases like HIV or AIDS.

In congenital syphilis cases, the infection is transmitted from the pregnant mother to the unborn child. Usually, transmission happens during the process of childbirth or during the period of pregnancy. Congenital syphilis leads to severe health problems for the newborn, which include miscarriage, stillbirth, or even death after birth.

Other ways of transmission, which are rare, include blood transfusions and sharing needles, as these practices are properly tested before use.

Syphilis is not spread by sharing food, utensils, clothing, or swimming pools or by hugging and kissing if no sores are present on the lips.

Understanding Syphilis! Its Progression Over Time

Syphilis develops in different stages, showing varied symptoms. Some patients show absolutely no signs at all. Therefore, getting tested periodically has gained significant importance. Different stages of syphilis are:

It’s The Great Imitator! Early Diagnosis Is Key To Preventing Syphilis

To identify syphilis, doctors and healthcare professionals use different techniques, namely physical examination, history of the patient’s health, and blood tests. The fluid inside the syphilis sore, the chancre, may also be evaluated to determine the existence of bacteria. Diagnostic methods are:

Serological blood tests are a diagnostic technique that makes use of a two-step process of blood tests to confirm the identity of syphilis infection. Nontreponemal tests are the first step used for the evaluation of the initial presence of the syphilis bacteria. In these tests, the response of antibodies present in the body against the syphilis bacteria is observed. Common examples are Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) tests. If Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) shows a high level of antibodies in the body, that indicates the presence of an active syphilis infection. Treponemal Tests are the second step in the process to absolutely confirm the presence of active syphilis infection, conducted after the above nontreponemal evaluation is positive. Examples of treponemal tests include the Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test, Treponema pallidum particle aggellation assay (TP-PA), and Enzyme immunoassays (EIA’s).Direct testing involves a procedure where the doctor takes a sample from a syphilis sore, the chancre, for direct evaluation. This involves the use of a dark-field microscope, a specialized microscope to observe bacteria like Treponema pallidum. This method is very accurate for the diagnosis of primary syphilis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is another very accurate technique to detect the genetic material that is the DNA of the bacterium Treponema pallidum. These tests are conducted by specialised labs.

Spinal fluid analysis is done in case a doctor suspects a neurosyphilis infection, which means syphilis has spread to the brain and spinal cord.

Some important points need to be considered during the diagnosis of infections, namely, false-negative results. This happens if the test returns negative shortly after infection is suspected. In this case, the test is repeated in 2-4 weeks. Home test kits are also available for diagnosing syphilis, but they are usually not definitive. A positive result through the test conducted by a healthcare professional is considered. Doctors usually suggest that all pregnant women be tested for syphilis during pregnancy, as congenital syphilis is considered to be extremely lethal to the newborn baby.

Understanding Syphilis Treatment! Fast, Effective, and Easily Available

Treatment of syphilis is usually dependent on the stage of infection, namely, if it is primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, latent syphilis, tertiary syphilis, or congenital syphilis. The use of antibiotics has been very effective in treating syphilis, especially Penicillin. For the primary, secondary, and early latent phases of infection, Benzathine Penicillin G is given in the form of an intramuscular injection. For later stages of syphilis infection, namely late latent to tertiary, an extended period of treatment is required. This helps in avoiding the disease from worsening further, but the damage caused previously cannot be reversed.

Neurosyphilis (syphilis infection of the central nervous system) and ocular syphilis (that is, when syphilis infects the eye) require even more intensive treatment. High doses of intravenous penicillin are injected to penetrate the deeper layers of the brain and help treat the infection. Ceftriaxone is used as an alternative drug in some patients.

In patients with penicillin allergy, other antibiotics like Doxycycline and Ceftriaxone can be used for alternative treatment. Also, in pregnant women, penicillin is the only effective treatment for syphilis, so in case of allergy in pregnant women to penicillin, a desensitization technique to penicillin is to be followed.

The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is a reaction observed in syphilis patients after the first 24 hours of giving treatment. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash that may worsen over time. This reaction occurs because of toxins released by the dying
bacteria. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) occurs after some time and does not indicate a drug allergy, and can be managed by support and care.

After treatment, follow-up testing is essential to confirm that the syphilis infection is completely gone. Treatment does not prevent reinfection; practicing safe sex is quite important, along with informing sexual partners to avoid the spread of the infection.

From Stigma to Strength! Defeating Syphilis with Awareness and Action

Syphilis is a major health problem all over the world, even though it is a completely preventable and curable infection. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are the most powerful tools against syphilis, as a simple blood test can confirm syphilis. This allows the doctors and healthcare professionals to begin treatment before syphilis can cause any serious damage to the vital organs like the heart, brain, or nervous system.

Treatment of syphilis most commonly involves the use of antibiotics like penicillin, which is highly effective, especially when given in the early stages. Completing the full timetable of doses as told by a doctor is important to make sure that the infection is completely gone. Without getting treatment on time, syphilis can lead to everlasting effects and can also be passed to others, including from mother to child during pregnancy.

Consulting a doctor not only provides accurate identification and safe treatment but also offers guidance for follow-up testing, having a healthy conversation with the partner, and preventing the spread of syphilis in the long term.

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