Syphilis
Testing Available Same Day
Syphilis
is a highly contagious disease spread primarily
by sexual activity, including oral and anal sex.
The disease can be passed to another person through
prolonged kissing or close bodily contact with an
infected person. The infected person is often unaware
of the disease and unknowingly passes it on to their
sexual partner. Syphilis has also been called the
mimic disease because its symptoms can imitate those
of other diseases.
Pregnant
women with the disease can spread it to their baby.
This disease, called congenital syphilis, can cause
abnormalities or even death to the child.
What
Causes Syphilis?
Syphilis is caused by the
bacteria
Treponema pallidum.
What
Are The Symptoms Of Syphilis?
Syphilis infection occurs in 3 distinct stages.
Early
or primary syphilis. People with primary
syphilis will develop one or more chancre sores.
The sores resemble large round bug bites and are
often hard and painless. They occur on the genitals
or in or around the mouth somewhere between 10-90
days (average 3 weeks) after exposure. Even without
treatment they heal without a scar within 6 weeks.
The
secondary stage may last 1-3 months and
begins within 6 weeks to 6 months after exposure.
People with secondary syphilis experience a rosy
"copper penny" rash typically on the palms
of the hands and soles of the feet. They may also
experience moist warts in the groin, white patches
on the inside of the mouth, swollen lymph glands,
fever, and weight loss. Like primary syphilis, secondary
syphilis will resolve without treatment.
Latent
syphilis. This is where the infection lies
dormant (inactive) without causing symptoms.
Tertiary
syphilis. If the infection isn't treated,
it may then progress to a stage characterized by
severe problems with the heart, brain, and nerves
that can result in paralysis, blindness, dementia,
deafness, impotence and even death if it's not treated.
What
Happens If I Don't Get Tested?
If syphilis is left untreated, it can cause serious
and permanent problems such as dementia, blindness
or death.
Our
Syphilis Testing Options
