It is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum.
It manifests with a small sore or ulcer on the genitals, which does not hurt and usually heals on its own after three weeks. Other locations are the mouth, rectum or skin. The nodes of the lymph node chain near the skin lesion are usually swollen.
It is diagnosed by directed questioning and a complete physical examination. The fluid from the sore, as well as blood, will also be tested for the bacteria.
Syphilis infection is treated with antibiotics, and the infected person's sexual partners should be treated in the same way, since syphilis is highly contagious in its early stages.
Urgent consultation should be made whenever a genital lesion appears and appropriate treatment should be initiated immediately, even if the lesion appears to resolve.
- Charles B Hicks, Meredith Clement. Syphilis: Screening and diagnostic testing. UpToDate Jul 18, 2016.
- Charles B Hicks, Meredith Clement. Syphilis: Treatment and monitoring. UpToDate Sep 07, 2016.
- Workowski KA, Bolan GA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep 2015; 64:1.
- Ghanem KG. Management of Adult Syphilis: Key Questions to Inform the 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines. Clin Infect Dis 2015; 61 Suppl 8:S818.
- Kingston M, French P, Higgins S, et al. UK national guidelines on the management of syphilis 2015. Int J STD AIDS 2016; 27:421.
- Sheila A Lukehart. Sífilis. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19º Edición. 1132:1140.
- L Olmos. Sífilis. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 12º edición. pp2312:2318.
