Category: syphilis

From the beginning, syphilis has been a deeply stigmatized, shameful disease. A letter written in June 1495 by an Italian doctor named Nicolò Squillaci contains one of the first written mentions of syphilis: “There are itching sensations and an unpleasant pain in the joints,” he wrote. “The skin is inflamed with revolting scabs and is covered… Continue reading Syphilis: The Painful History of an Odd Bug

Syphilis has always terrified humanity. When it first reared its head in Europe in the 15th century, though, it was a total mystery. Nobody knew where syphilis had come from, what caused it, or how to cure it. People came up with myths to help them understand the awful new disease they called “the great… Continue reading Myths and Facts About Syphilis

The recommended treatment for syphilis is the antibiotic penicillin, specifically the type known as penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin L-A). Penicillin has proven to be effective at killing Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis. The cost of penicillin G benzathine varies. Most health insurance will cover it, with a possible copay depending on your plan. If you don’t have insurance, you may… Continue reading Syphilis Treatment

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that develops in stages, and symptoms vary depending on the stage of the disease you have. There are four stages of syphilis: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. But symptoms don’t always occur in the same order, and they may overlap from stage to stage. You can also be infected… Continue reading Syphilis Symptoms, Stages, and Diagnosis

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that’s typically spread through sexual contact. The first sign of syphilis is most commonly a painless sore, called a chancre, that develops where the bacteria entered the body. The chancre typically appears within three weeks from the time of exposure. It is usually in the area of the genitals, rectum,… Continue reading What Is Syphilis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

If you have syphilis and become pregnant, you can transmit the disease to your unborn child. The bacteria that cause the illness can pass from you to your infant through the placenta. Your child is then said to have congenital syphilis. Fetuses infected with syphilis often die in the womb, says Damian P. Alagia III, MD, a… Continue reading The Dangers of Syphilis During Pregnancy

Each case of syphilis — its signs, symptoms, and potential long-term complications — is unique. Syphilis can damage every type of tissue and every organ within your body, so the list of possible complications caused by syphilis runs long. That list includes major physical and mental illnesses. “Very early in the infection, the organism invades… Continue reading Complications of Syphilis