August 9th, 2013
Syphilis is one of the more serious STDs that needs early diagnosis and syphilis treatment. Transmitted during sexual activity, syphilis is caused by the spirochete (corkscrew formed) bacterium Treponema pallidum. If syphilis is not diagnosed and appropriately treated, it may cause serious health conditions and even death.
Syphilis is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with syphilis sores. To know more about syphilis symptoms and stages, read this post.
The CDC estimates the yearly new infection rate with syphilis to be more than 55,000 in the US.
Syphilis is usually diagnosed with blood tests that show positive for antibodies against the syphilis bacterium. Sometimes the syphilis bacterium is observed in samples taken from the sore and examined under the microscope, and that is where the syphilis treatment starts.
Syphilis treatment can be easy with the proper antibiotics and further damages be prevented. Important is the early initiation of syphilis treatment and therapy; damages already present can not be repaired by medication. It is very important to notify the partner of a syphilis infection in order to be tested and and start syphilis treatment ASAP.
Syphilis can easily be transmitted from the mother to the baby during delivery. If a new born is infected with syphilis (it may not show any symptoms for quite a while), many negative health effects such as low birth weight, congenital anomalies, or even stillbirth may be the result.
Special note from the CDC:Â “Because untreated syphilis in a pregnant woman can infect and kill her developing baby, every pregnant woman should receive prenatal care and be tested for syphilis during pregnancy and at delivery.”
Please ask you doctor to check you for syphilis if you:
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