Syphilis Rash

Syphilis: A Potentially Fatal Disease

Syphilis is a serious sexually transmitted infection (STI) which can potentially enable those affected to go through three painful and often distressing stages, those being the primary, secondary and latent (tertiary) stages.

If the primary stage of the infection is detected and treated at an early stage, the secondary and latent stage of the infection can be avoided. Practicing safe sex is a crucial way to avoid contracting the infection and this means the use of condoms with every sexual partner, along with avoidance of intercourse with a person known to be infected. Syphilis too can be transmitted by receipt of a blood transfusion from an infected source.

If left entirely untreated syphilis can in fact lead to death. The complex symptoms which can present in the latent stage can cause significant damage to vital organs of the body which becomes irreparable.

Syphilis Rash: A Symptom Not to be Ignored

In the primary stage of syphilis the individual will develop one or more sores, otherwise known as ‘chancre’. The lesion will usually appear at the site where the syphilis infected the body. This presentation occurs between ten and ninety days after the initial infection and lasts for up to six weeks. The sore will go away without treatment however treatment will undoubtedly assist in the avoidance of the unpleasant symptoms of the secondary stage.

In the secondary stage a syphilis rash is the most common presenting symptom. The rash can occur on many parts of the body, and sometimes affects more than one area. Typically the secondary stage rash will appear toward the end of the primary stage presenting as spots which may be red or reddish-brown in color on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, and possibly in other areas. As the infection progresses, the rash presents in ‘moist’ areas of the body such as the arm-pits, groins, and under the breasts of women.

The syphilis rash is not commonly itchy or painful and if present yet not uncomfortable should not be under-estimated, as with any unusual rash it is always important to seek medical attention. It is also crucial that the rash is not confused with other less sinister skin conditions. In some cases the rash may be so feint that it is barely noticeable and it too will disappear even without treatment, fortunately other symptoms which present with secondary stage syphilis will alert the individual that something is wrong and requires medical attention. These additional symptoms usually include:

• Swollen lymph glands - these are often painful too.
• Fever - sometimes associated with perspiration.
• General feeling of lethargy and fatigue - the individual will have no energy or drive to go about daily activities.
• Headaches - for those who don't normally suffer headaches these will be prominent.
• Aching limbs - particularly on mobilization, everything feels like an effort.
• Weight loss - this will be unexplained and not caused by deliberate actions or changes in diet.

The above symptoms or any combination of them can persist for several weeks, therefore the sooner medical advice is sought the quicker treatment can commence to avoid the dangerous latent stage developing, over time. The syphilis rash itself does not require any specific treatment however supplementary treatment by means of analgesia may be required to treat the painful symptoms such as muscle aches and swollen lymph glands.

Diagnosing Syphilis

Fortunately for some the infection is be detected in the primary stage following examination of the presenting sores. A trained medical eye, particularly if examined at a specialist genitor-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic is likely to recognize the presentation of syphilis even in the early stage.

It is common practice to take swabs of the area where the chancre is present, and if presenting in the secondary stage of the infection a blood test will accurately confirm or dismiss the presence of syphilis. Syphilis is known to be dangerous in pregnant women, as the infection can easily be passed on to the newborn infant causing serious symptoms, and sometimes death of the infant soon after birth. Fortunately pre-natal care involves screening for syphilis along with other serious infections which can cause harm to the mother or her unborn child.

Treatment for Syphilis

If detected in the early stages syphilis can be relatively easy to cure. The use of the antibiotic penicillin given as an injection is sufficient to treat the infection provided it has been present for less than a year.

As with any sexually transmitted infection the prevention of it is far more favorable than the cure.