You Ask , They Answer
Q
: What ’ s syphilis and what are its telltale signs ?
A
: Syphilis is a highly infectious disease caused by the spirochete bacterium , Treponema pallidum .
There are three clinical stages of syphilis — Primary , Secondary , and Tertiary . It is said to be latent between the secondary and tertiary stages .
Forget about telltale signs ! Most cases of syphilis are discovered by the routine blood tests that all sexually active people should take after a risky encounter , or on meeting a new partner . Most cases are without any telltale signs or symptoms and are silent .
The only reliable way of detecting the infection is by having a full Sexually Transmitted Infection ( STI ) screen and remember that it takes 6-10 weeks after catching syphilis for the antibodies to show up in the blood test . The advice is to go for a STI screening test 1-2 weeks after a risk encounter to check for gonorrhea , Clamydia , and Mycoplasma genitalium , and to set base line bloods , and then repeat the blood test 6-10 weeks later to rule out Syphilis , Hepatitis B , and HI� .
The primary stage of syphilis , which is seen shortly after catching the infection , presents as a painless ulcer or sore — the chancre . Because it is painless and may be on hidden parts of the body like the vulva , around the anus , or in the mouth , it is frequently missed . A medical practitioner , experienced in dark ground microscopy , can detect 50 percent of syphilis cases from the fluid from the chancre , and this rises to more than 95 percent if molecular polymerase chain reaction , or PCR , is available . PCR allows doctors to amplify or copy DNA for analysis .
The chancre is usually painless and will heal up spontaneously , with most of those infected not even realising they are infected , especially if the chancre is in a part of the body that is not usually seen .
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