Syphilis

Many persons infected with syphilis do not show any symptoms.

If symptoms show up, they are as follows:

A short time after contracting the infection:

• painless ulcers that are generally located on the genital organs, the anus, in the mouth or the throat. These ulcers get better spontaneously in a few weeks but the infection stays in the organism.

At a more advanced stage of syphilis:

• symptoms similar to those of flu, such as fever, coughing, headache, aches and pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting;
• the appearance of redness or pimples on the palm of the hands, soles of the feet or elsewhere on the body.
• these symptoms disappear spontaneously a few months after they appear but the infection stays in the organism.

Possible consequences for health:

• Damage to the heart, the brain, the bones and the liver.
• Increased risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.

Screening

• The screening test is carried out by means of a blood sample.

Treatment

• Syphilis is treated by means of antibiotics.
• You must avoid having sexual intercourse until your blood samples show that the infection has been cured. This can take several months. If, despite everything, you want to have sexual intercourse, you must use a condom.

• When you have sexual intercourse, use a condom.
  • A condom must be used before any contact of the penis with the mouth, the vagina or the anus.
  • A condom must be used from start to finish of sexual intercours.
• To avoid blood-borne transmission, the best thing is still obviously not to inject or inhale drugs.
• If you consume drugs by injection or inhalation, avoid reuse of equipment.