Hi, Dopamine Seekers!
Have you ever heard about Syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexual transmitted infection (STIs), caused by Treponema pallidum.
Syphilis can be transmitted through sexual contact (vaginal, anal and oral sex) and childbirth (from mother to child).
Note: you can’t get syphilis through casual contact with objects, such as toilet seat, swimming pools, nor sharing clothes and utensils.
If left untreated, syphilis can cause serious health problems.
What are the stages of Syphilis?
1. Primary Stage : A papules that appears at the site of venereal contact, the papule grows to a size of 0.5 – 1.5 cm in diameter and after about a week ulcerates (typical chancre), painless. Most chancres are found on the penis of men and on the labia, fourchette or cervix of women. Chancre can be self-limiting.
2. Secondary Stage : within a few months, a variable systemic illness develops, characterized by low grade fever, sore throat, malaise, headache, adenopathy and cutaneous (especially on palms and soles) or mucosal rash.
3. Latent Stage : The hidden stage, where there are no symptoms. However, individuals in the latent stage may still be infectious and may spread the disease to their sexual partner.
4. Tertiary Stage : where the bacteria will attack multiple internal organs and may cause serious medical complications.
Who is at the highest risk?
Syphilis occurs worldwide, most commonly in urban areas. The number of cases is rising fastest in:
- Men who have sex with men
- Commercial sex workers
- People who exchange sex for drugs.
- Person with other STIs, such as chlamydia, HIV, gonorrhea, genital herpes and anogenital warts.
Screening for Syphilis : Who should be tested?
Given the high prevalence of syphilis and the large number of asymptomatic syphilis infections, routine screening for syphilis is required to control syphilis in the community. Physical examination and syphilis serological tests are used to screen for the disease. So, who needs to get tested for syphilis?
- All pregnant woman : syphilis screening should be done as soon as possible during the fist antenatal care visit and should be repeated at the third visit and during delivery. It has potential to reduce infant mortality and deformities.
- Commercial sex workers : Due to the risk of the job, screening for syphilis every three to six months is highly recommend.
- Person with other STIs : May be more likely to engage in high-risk behavior, placing them at increased risk for syphilis.
- Men who have sex with men.
What happens if Syphilis is left untreated?
Cutaneous Problems
A granulomatous nodular (gumma) lesion with variable central necrosis, which most commonly affect the skin or mucous membranes. They favor sites of previous trauma and may arise anywhere in the body but are more common on the scalp, forehead, buttocks, presternal, supraclavicular or pretibial areas. In contrast to noduloulcerative lesions, gummas are deeper and more destructive.

Neurological problems
Syphilis can cause a number of problems with nervous system, including: stroke, meningitis, hearing loss, visual problems (including blindness), dementia, sexual dysfunction in men, bladder incontinence.
Cardiovascular problems
These may include bulging and swelling the aorta (which is your body’s major artery) and other vessels. It may also damage your heart valves.
Pregnancy and Childbirth
You may pass syphilis to your unborn child. Congenital syphilis greatly increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of your newborn within a few days of birth.
Fortunately, the are treatment for syphilis. So, consult your doctors, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms before it’s too late.
Supervised by: dr. Yudo Irawan, Sp.KK, Subsp. Ven