The Results Of Untreated Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria. Most people will begin to feel symptoms within the first few weeks of exposure. The person will have painless ulcers called chancres at the infected site. This is called primary syphilis as this disease has progressive stages. This disease ultimately can reach tertiary stage if it is untreated syphilis.
The next stage is called secondary syphilis. What will be seen here is a rash, lesions found on the mucous membranes, and lymph nodes will be enlarged.
When the patient has not gone to the doctor, the disease can continue to spread. This is why it important to treat it easily from the beginning. The disease will then become tertiary syphilis. The symptoms are much more severe affecting the heart and nervous system. Paralysis can occur in this stage.
To diagnose this disease early in its stages, one needs a sample of the exudate from the initial lesion. The bacteria will be found here. There are also blood tests which can diagnose the disease. If tertiary syphilis has begun to show signs of affecting the spinal cord, then a sample of the fluid surrounding the spinal cord must be tested.
Treatment for syphilis is straightforward as it only takes one or more injections of penicillin. This is dependent on the stage. People who are allergic to penicillin have alternative antibiotics to take. This antibiotic is a very commonly used medicine which is readily available.
People can become infected with syphilis after intercourse, so it is important to keep note of a painless ulcer or chancre. It is easily treated, and this will avoid any progression of the disease. The late stages include disease of the heart and nervous system so prevention of this is important. Awareness of this disease is important with the sexually active.
Stop waiting! Get STD testing to discover if that rash is actually a syphilis rash. Get a private test in an STD testing center close to where you live.