Syphilis

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Syphilis

The mainstay of therapy for syphilis is proper antibiotic treatment. The antibiotic of choice is penicillin, yet doxycycline may be used as an alternative in individuals with a penicillin allergy.

Penicillin is given either intramuscularly or intravenously depending on the stage of syphilis. After appropriate antibiotic treatment is given for syphilis, follow up blood tests (RPR) are usually performed to assess the adequacy of treatment.

Syphilis is a reportable infection -- that is, it must be reported to public health authorities for assistance in identifying and treating potentially infected sexual partners.

Prompt treatment and monitoring for response to treatment for syphilis can cure the disease. Once late complications develop (tertiary syphilis), long-term health problems are likely despite therapy.

The complications of syphilis are related to the development of the syndromes associated with tertiary syphilis:

• neurosyphilis
• cardiovascular complications (aortitis and aneurysms)
• destructive lesions of the skin and bones (gummas).

In addition, untreated secondary syphilis during pregnancy may result in transmission to the fetus (congenital syphilis).

Notify your health care provider if you develop signs or symptoms of syphilis -- while there are several conditions which may have similar symptoms, you will need to undergo a careful medical evaluation.

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