Syphilis symptom
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, which is caused by bacterium. This disease is called the ‘great imitator’ because its signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from other diseases. According to health statistics, officials reported 32,000 cases of syphilis in the United States in the year 2002.
Syphilis is passed from person to person via direct contact with the syphilis sore. These sores occur in the genitals, vagina and anus or in the rectum. Sores can also occur in the lips or the mouth and transmission occurs through oral sex, anal sex or vaginal sex. Pregnant women can pass it on to their babies. Some people who are infected with this transmitted disease do not show any symptoms for many years. Thus, most of the transmission is from persons who are unaware about their infection.
Picture of Syphilis Symptom: It is very difficult to diagnose a sexually transmitted disease by seeing pictures. In diseases like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts, scabies and herpes, symptoms vary from person to person. Since these symptoms resemble the symptoms of other illnesses, it is very difficult to diagnose the diseases based on pictures. Such pictures can actually be used as a guide and only a doctor can diagnose a STD.
Sign and Symptom of Syphilis: People who are infected with syphilis do not show any sign or symptoms of the disease. The primary stage of syphilis is marked by the initial appearance of a sore called chancre and then multiple sores. The time period from the first show of the infection to the first symptom can range from 10 to 90 days and usually, the chancre is firm, round, small and painless. If adequate treatment is not availed of during the early stages, then the infection progresses to the secondary phase.
The signs and symptoms of the secondary phase are much more prominent than the primary stage. In this stage, the rash develops in more than one area of the body. The rash appears while the chancre is healing or several weeks after the chancre has healed. This rash is rough, red or reddish brown, both on the palms of the hands and undersides of the feet. Other than rash, the secondary stage may also include headache, weight loss, fatigue, sore throat and patch hair loss.
In the latent stage, the infection damages the internal organs such as the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, joints and bones. The internal damages are observed much later. Signs and symptoms include difficulty in coordinating muscular movements, numbness, gradual blindness and dementia. These symptoms are serious enough to cause death.
Medical Condition of Syphilis Symptom: The initial condition of the syphilis symptom can be cured by one shot of penicillin. However, one shot of penicillin cannot cure the damages caused before treatment. A baby born under this medical condition needs penicillin shots for 10 consecutive days.
Gonorrhea and Syphilis Symptom: Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease like syphilis and this infection is caused by bacteria which can be treated by antibiotics. The signs and symptoms of gonorrhea are similar to syphilis. If untreated, it may lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
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