HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Syphilis
Pākewakewa
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a bacteria (bug) called treponema pallidum. The bacteria enter the body through tiny breaks in the skin, mainly in the anal area, genital area or the mouth.
If untreated, syphilis can stay in your body causing serious problems.
Syphilis is very infectious, and you can catch it by having sexual contact with an infected person. This may include vaginal, anal or oral sex or just close skin-to-skin contact.
Syphilis can also be spread from mother to baby during pregnancy if the mother is infected.
Symptoms of syphilis
When you first get syphilis, it may cause painless ulcers (sores) on your genital area or other places of sexual contact, such as your mouth or anus (bottom). This is known as primary syphilis.
If syphilis isn't treated, it can stay in your body and progress to secondary syphilis, which may cause a rash and other symptoms, including new sores.
Some infected people will get tertiary syphilis which can appear years later. This can cause a wide range of symptoms.
Diagnosing syphilis
You'll need a blood test to check for syphilis.
If you're sexually active, it's a good idea to get tested. You can get tested at your general practice, school clinic or rural clinic. You can also get tested at the Sexual Health Clinic. Even if you feel embarrassed, it's better to get checked than to have untreated syphilis.
Treating syphilis
Syphilis is treated with antibiotics. The length of treatment varies depending on the type of infection and the antibiotic used. In most cases, penicillin injections are used.
After treatment with penicillin injections, some people (particularly in early syphilis) have a flu-like illness for 24 hours. This includes fevers, aches and pains and generally feeling sick. These symptoms go away and do not need any treatment except rest.
After treatment, follow-up blood tests are essential for at least one year to make sure you're healed.
Your sexual partners will also need to be tested and treated.
Using a condom every time you have sex is the best way to protect yourself from getting or passing on syphilis.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Just the Facts – Syphilis
Information about syphilis, its effects, and treatment.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed June 2022.
Sources
Review key: HISYP-53679
