Syphilis is a complex, sexually transmitted
disease (STD) with a highly variable
clinical course. The disease is caused by
the bacterium, Treponema pallidum. In
the United States, 36,935 cases of syphilis,
including 349 cases of congenital
syphilis, were
detected by public health officials in 2006.
Six of the ten states with the highest rates of
syphilis are located in the southern region
of the United States.
Syphilis is passed from person-to-person
through direct contact with a syphilis sore
(called a chancre). Chancres mainly occur on
the external genitals, vagina, anus, or
rectum, but may also occur on the lips and
in the mouth. Transmission of syphilis
occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Pregnant women with the disease can pass it
on to their babies.
Syphilis cannot be spread by toilet
seats, door knobs, swimming pools, hot tubs,
bath tubs, shared clothing, or eating
utensils.
The first symptoms of syphilis can appear
from 10-90 days (average 21 days). The first
stage is marked by the appearance of a
chancre that is usually firm, round, small,
and painless. The chancre lasts 1-5 weeks
and heals on its own. The second stage of
syphilis begins when one or more areas of
the skin develops a non-itching rash. Rashes
can appear as rough, "copper penny" spots on
the palms of the hands and bottom of the
feet; a prickly heat rash, small blotches or
scales all over the body; a bad case of old
acne; moist warts in the groin area; white
patches in the mouth; sunken dark circles
the size of a nickel or dime; or as
pus-filled eruptions like chicken pox.
Rashes can last 2-6 weeks and, like the
chancre, heal on their own. During the first
and second stages of syphilis, an infected
person can easily pass the disease to their
sex partners.
The latent (hidden) stage of syphilis
begins when the secondary symptoms
disappear. If the infected person has not
received treatment, he/she still has
syphilis even though there are no symptoms.
Syphilis remains in the body and begins to
damage the internal organs including the
brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels,
liver, bones, and joints.
An infected pregnant woman has about a
40% chance of having a stillbirth
(syphilitic stillbirth) or delivering a baby
who dies shortly after birth. A baby born to
a mother with either untreated syphilis or
syphilis treated after the 34th week of
pregnancy has a 40%-70% chance of being
infected with syphilis (congenital
syphilis). The baby may be born without
symptoms, but will develop them within a few
weeks, if not treated immediately. Some
infected babies are born with very serious
health problems including skin sores, a very
runny nose which is sometimes bloody (and
infectious), white patches in the mouth,
inflamed arm and leg bones, a swollen liver,
anemia, jaundice, or a small head. Untreated
babies may become retarded or have seizures.
About 12% of infected newborns will die
because of the disease.
Bicillin, a type of penicillin (G
benzathine), will cure a person who has had
syphilis for <1 year. More doses are needed
to cure someone who has had it longer. A
baby born with the disease needs daily
penicillin treatment for 10 days. There are
no home remedies or over-the-counter drugs
that cure syphilis. Washing the genitals,
urinating, or douching after sex does not
prevent syphilis. Any unusual discharge,
sore, or rash -especially in the groin area
- should be a signal to stop having sex and
to see a doctor immediately.
For further information on syphilis,
visit the
CDC Division of STD Prevention or call
CDC-INFO at 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
Case
Definitions - Syphilis
Facts & Information about Syphilis |