Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection (STI) capable of affecting any organ of the body. It is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum, a spiral shaped organism, which can live almost anywhere in the body and spreads rapidly by splitting in two about once every day. It affects both men and women. The bacteria like the warm moist linings of the genital passages, the rectum and mouth, but dies quickly outside the body. Bacteria (Treponema pallidum) penetrates broken skin or mucous membranes when coming into contact with open syphilitic sores and then carried through the bloodstream to every organ of the body, because it lives in the blood. The drug users who share needles are also at higher risk of being infected by this disease. Syphilis is almost always a result of unprotected sex with an infected person. Syphilis spread primarily by sexual activity (including oral and anal sex) prolonged kissing or close bodily contact with an infected person can spread the disease easily. You could get syphilis by touching the blood or sores of a person who has syphilis, Although this disease is spread from sores, the vast majority of these sores go unrecognized. The infected person is often unaware of the disease and unknowingly passes it on to their sexual partner. An infected pregnant woman can also pass the disease to her unborn child. An infected mother can pass syphilis through the placenta to her developing fetus. This disease, called congenital syphilis, can cause abnormalities or even death to the child. Pregnant women should receive a prenatal blood test for syphilis. The bacterium are fragile, dies quickly outside the body, does not survive well outside the body so that non-sexual contractions of the diseases are uncommon. The disease cannot be spread through contact with toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming Pools, hot tubs, Bathtubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils The disease begins with an ulcer at the site of infection, which normally forms on the genital area, vagina, anus, on the lips, in the mouth or rectum. The sores are often painless; people may not know they are infected. This disease is divided in to stages and if the disease is not treated it transferred to one by one stage, the last stage of the disease is very dangerous, An infected person who does not get treatment may infect others during the first two stages when lesions (sores) are present. In its late stages, untreated syphilis, although not contagious, can cause serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness, other neurological problems and death. The disease progresses through four distinct stages—primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary Primary: The Primary symptom of syphilis is often a small, round, firm ulcer (sore) called a chancre at the place where the bacteria entered the body. This place is usually the penis, vulva, or vagina or inside the vagina. But chancres can also develop on the cervix, tongue, lips, or other parts of your body. These sores are generally the result of (unsafe sex) anal sex and oral sex. Usually there is only one chancre, but sometimes they are many. These symptoms may occur from 10 days to three months after exposure. These red sore are usually firm, round, small, and painless. The sore is full of bacteria and is very infectious. The primary symptom often begins with a sore on the part that has been in contact with the infection, the genitals, rectum or mouth. Sores show where the skin has been in contact with the bacteria. The chancre is generally a dark pink color and does not bleed easily. Many people never notice the chancre because it may be inside the vagina or somewhere else hard to see or feel. If the lesion is untreated, it may heal on its own. However, if adequate treatment is not administered, it spreads from the sore into blood. When syphilis gets into the blood, it can cause many problems and the infection progresses to the secondary stage. Secondary: If primary stage left untreated it progress to secondary stage in two weeks to two month after the onset of the chancre. The bacteria spreads through the blood to the skin, liver, joints, lymph nodes, muscles and brain. Once the bacteria get in to the blood, it can cause many problems. People with secondary syphilis have a non-itchy skin rash (a rash that usually does not itch). The rash can appear as the chancre is fading, or it can be delayed up to 10 weeks Sometimes rashes associated with secondary syphilis are so faint that they are not noticed. The rash may cover any part of the body, but tends to erupt on the palms or soles of the feet. It does not itch. The rash usually heals within several weeks or months. Other symptoms — mild fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, patchy hair loss and swollen lymph glands throughout the body — also may occur. These symptoms also disappear within a few weeks. If left untreated the secondary stage will heal and all the other symptoms will disappear; this indicates that the disease has evolved in to the latent stage. Latent stage: If secondary stage left untreated it progress to Latent stage. In early latent syphilis, you may not have symptoms but the infection remains in your body. When you are in this stage, you can infect a sexual partner. The disease may progress to the tertiary stage. During the latent stage of syphilis, there are no symptoms, but the bacterium is still in the body. This stage can last for many years and the person can suffer from joint and bone damage and increasing blindness. A year after infection, symptoms usually disappear on their own and the person is no longer infectious to sex partner. However, the disease is still in the body and can cause serious complications years later. Latent syphilis may stay with the patient for the life. Tertiary stage: If latent stage left untreated it progress to tertiary stage. However, approximately one-third of those infected go on to develop the complications of late, or tertiary, syphilis in which the bacteria damage the heart, eyes, brain, nervous system, bones, joints or almost any other part of the body. This stage can last for years, or even decades. Late syphilis can result in mental illness, blindness, other neurological problems, heart disease and death. Syphilis is easy to cure in its early stages. More doses are needed to cure someone who has had it for longer. Persons who receive syphilis treatment must not have sex with new partners until the syphilis sores are completely healed. Persons with syphilis must notify their sex partners so they can receive treatment, too. Treatment will kill the syphilis bacteria and prevent further damage, but it will not repair any damage already done.
Submitted By:shoaib

5/8/2007

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