Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is usually spread by sexual contact. However, a fetus can get syphilis from its mother while she is pregnant or during childbirth. This is called congenital syphilis.

There are four stages of syphilis: the primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary stages. In each stage, the signs and symptoms of syphilis are different.

In the primary stage, a person usually just has a wound on their skin, called a "chancre." In the secondary stage, a person usually gets a rash. In the "latent" stage, syphilis has few or no symptoms. If syphilis reaches the tertiary stage, which is the most severe, it causes many serious symptoms. These can include problems with the nervous system (the brain and nerves) and problems with the heart. Eventually, many people with tertiary syphilis will die if they do not get medical treatment.

Treatment for Syphilis


Pregnant women with syphilis can be safely treated with antibiotics.
The treatment you need depends on how long you've had syphilis and how far along in your pregnancy you are.
Pregnant women who've had syphilis for less than two years are usually treated with an injection of penicillin into the buttocks (if treated during the first or second trimester) or two injections given a week apart (if treated during the third trimester).
Pregnant women who've had syphilis for more than two years are usually treated with three penicillin injections into the buttocks given at weekly intervals.
A short course of antibiotic tablets may be needed if you can't have penicillin.