Treatment FAQ

what are some of the treatment for syphilis

by Isaias Balistreri I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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When diagnosed and treated in its early stages, syphilis is easy to cure. The preferred treatment at all stages is penicillin, an antibiotic medication that can kill the organism that causes syphilis. If you're allergic to penicillin, your doctor may suggest another antibiotic or recommend penicillin desensitization.Sep 25, 2021

Medication

The recommended treatment for neurosyphilis, ocular syphilis, or otosyphilis is Aqueous crystalline penicillin G 18-24 million units per day, administered as 3-4 million units intravenously every 4 hours or continuous infusion, for 10-14 days. Treatment will prevent disease progression, but it might not repair damage already done.

Self-care

What Is the Prognosis for Syphilis?

  • Syphilis in the first 2 stages continues to be cured with penicillin-unlike other diseases that are becoming resistant to antibiotics.
  • The outlook for people with tertiary syphilis is less optimistic.
  • In one study, 20% of people with cardiovascular syphilis died without antibiotic therapy.

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Nutrition

Guava and honey smoothie

  • Although citrus fruits all stand out for their content in this vitamin, guava has up to four times more
  • For this reason, if you take it for at least a week, you will benefit from its antibiotic properties
  • In addition, you can sweeten it with honey to further multiply its powerful effects

How long does it take to treat and cure syphilis?

Syphilis: Its Early History and Treatment until Penicillin

  • Introduction. ...
  • The First Epidemic of the ‘Disease of Naples’ or the ‘French Disaster’ in Naples, 1495. ...
  • Early Descriptions of the Disease. ...
  • The Origin of the Term ‘Syphilis’. ...
  • Syphilis in the 16th Century and Its Social Ramifications. ...
  • Syphilis and Medicine in the 18th and 19th Centuries. ...
  • The Early Treatments of Syphilis. ...

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What antibiotic cures syphilis?

How to cure syphilis naturally?

How did they treat syphilis before penicillin?

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What treatment is used for syphilis?

A single injection of long-acting Benzathine penicillin G can cure the early stages of syphilis. This includes primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis. CDC recommends three doses of long-acting Benzathine penicillin G at weekly intervals for late latent syphilis or latent syphilis of unknown duration.

Is there a treatment for for syphilis besides penicillin?

Doxycycline and tetracycline for 28 days have been used for many years and are the only acceptable alternatives to penicillin for the treatment of latent syphilis. Doxycycline is the preferred alternative to penicillin owing to its tolerability. Azithromycin has also been studied.

Can you completely treat syphilis?

Yes, syphilis is curable with the right antibiotics from your healthcare provider. However, treatment might not undo any damage the infection can cause.

Are syphilis sores itchy?

A syphilis rash doesn't usually itch. People may mistake a syphilis rash for psoriasis, eczema or pityriasis rosea if they don't realize they have syphilis. While the rash often appears on the hands or feet, it can also appear on the torso, trunk or extremities.

How long does it take for syphilis to go away after treatment?

You may have one or more sores. The chancre disappears within three to six weeks. Swollen lymph glands in your neck, armpits or groin.

What is the best antibiotic for syphilis?

When diagnosed and treated in its early stages, syphilis is easy to cure. The preferred treatment at all stages is penicillin, an antibiotic medication that can kill the organism that causes syphilis.

What does syphilis look like on a man?

A person with primary syphilis generally has a sore or sores at the original site of infection. These sores usually occur on or around the genitals, around the anus or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. These sores are usually (but not always) firm, round, and painless.

What is one of the first signs of syphilis?

The first sign of syphilis is a small sore, called a chancre (SHANG-kur). The sore appears at the spot where the bacteria entered your body. While most people infected with syphilis develop only one chancre, some people develop several of them. The chancre usually develops about three weeks after exposure.

How does syphilis affect the body?

Syphilis can cause blindness or paralysis. It increases your chances of getting and spreading HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Over time, it can damage your organs and even lead to death.

How long do side effects of syphilis last?

Joint or muscle pain. All of the above, plus nausea and chills. If you do have side effects, they typically only last about 24 hours. Once you’ve completed your treatment, the antibiotics will kill the bacteria that cause syphilis and prevent any additional problems from occurring because of that particular case.

Can you get syphilis again?

And, they’ll advise you to be tested for HIV and avoid all sexual contact until blood tests confirm you’re cured. And remember that getting treatment doesn’t mean you can’t get syphilis again or spread it at a later time.

Is a syringe curable?

The good news: It’s easily treated and curable in its early stages.

Will Syphilis Treatment Work If I’m Pregnant?

Yes. If you’re expecting, it’s especially important to seek treatment because you could pass the disease on to your fetus or newborn. Again, your doctor will give you penicillin. If you’re allergic to it, your doctor will have you go through a special process to enable you to take the antibiotic.

What test can confirm syphilis?

Blood. Blood tests can confirm the presence of antibodies that the body produces to fight infection. The antibodies to the syphilis-causing bacteria remain in your body for years, so the test can be used to determine a current or past infection. Cerebrospinal fluid.

How to prevent HIV infection?

Avoid sexual contact with new partners until the treatment is completed and blood tests indicate the infection has been cured. Notify your sex partners so that they can be tested and get treatment if necessary. Be tested for HIV infection.

What does giving a complete report of your symptoms and sexual history do?

Giving your doctor a complete report of your symptoms and sexual history will help your doctor determine how to best care for you. Here are some of the things your doctor may ask:

Do you have to share sexual experiences with a doctor?

Most people don't feel comfortable sharing the details of their sexual experiences, but the doctor's office is one place where you have to provide this information so that you can get the right care.

Can you cure syphilis with penicillin?

When diagnosed and treated in its early stages, syphilis is easy to cure. The preferred treatment at all stages is penicillin, an antibiotic medication that can kill the organism that causes syphilis. If you're allergic to penicillin, your doctor may suggest another antibiotic or recommend penicillin desensitization.

What is the best treatment for syphilis?

Penicillin G , administered parenterally, is the preferred drug for treating patients in all stages of syphilis. The preparation used (i.e., benzathine, aqueous procaine, or aqueous crystalline), dosage, and length of treatment depend on the stage and clinical manifestations of the disease. Treatment for late latent syphilis (>1 years’ duration) and tertiary syphilis requires a longer duration of therapy because organisms theoretically might be dividing more slowly (the validity of this rationale has not been assessed). Longer treatment duration is required for persons with latent syphilis of unknown duration to ensure that those who did not acquire syphilis within the preceding year are adequately treated.

When should syphilis be treated?

Persons who have had sexual contact with a person who receives a diagnosis of primary, secondary , or early latent syphilis >90 days before the diagnosis should be treated presumptively for early syphilis if serologic test results are not immediately available and the opportunity for follow-up is uncertain. If serologic tests are negative, no treatment is needed. If serologic tests are positive, treatment should be based on clinical and serologic evaluation and syphilis stage.

How to screen for syphilis?

Clinical laboratories sometimes screen syphilis serologic samples by using automated treponemal immunoassays, typically by EIA or CIA (571–573). This reverse sequence algorithm for syphilis testing can identify persons previously treated for syphilis, those with untreated or incompletely treated syphilis, and those with false-positive results that can occur with a low likelihood of infection (574). Persons with a positive treponemal screening test should have a standard quantitative nontreponemal test with titer performed reflexively by the laboratory to guide patient management decisions. If the nontreponemal test is negative, the laboratory should perform a treponemal test different from the one used for initial testing, preferably TP-PA or treponemal assay based on different antigens than the original test, to adjudicate the results of the initial test.

What is the definitive method for diagnosing syphilis?

Darkfield examinations and molecular tests for detecting T. pallidumdirectly from lesion exudate or tissue are the definitive methods for diagnosing early syphilis and congenital syphilis (565). Although no T. pallidumdirect-detection molecular NAATs are commercially available, certain laboratories provide locally developed and validated PCR tests for detecting T. pallidumDNA. A presumptive diagnosis of syphilis requires use of two laboratory serologic tests: a nontreponemal test (i.e., Venereal Disease Research Laboratory [VDRL] or rapid plasma reagin [RPR] test) and a treponemal test (i.e., the T. pallidumpassive particle agglutination [TP-PA] assay, various EIAs, chemiluminescence immunoassays [CIAs] and immunoblots, or rapid treponemal assays) (566–568). At least 18 treponemal-specific tests are cleared for use in the United States. Use of only one type of serologic test (nontreponemal or treponemal) is insufficient for diagnosis and can result in false-negative results among persons tested during primary syphilis and false-positive results among persons without syphilis or previously treated syphilis.

What is latent syphilis?

Latent infections (i.e., those lacking clinical manifestations) are detected by serologic testing. Latent syphilis acquired within the preceding year is referred to as early latent syphilis; all other cases of latent syphilis are classified as late latent syphilis or latent syphilis of unknown duration.

How long before syphilis diagnosis should you treat?

Persons who have had sexual contact with a person who receives a diagnosis of primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis <90 days before the diagnosis should be treated presumptively for early syphilis, even if serologic test results are negative.

Is CSF evaluation necessary for syphilis?

Further testing with CSF evaluation is warrant ed for persons with clinical signs of neuro syphilis (e.g., cranial nerve dysfunction, meningitis, stroke, acute or chronic altered mental status, or loss of vibration sense). All patients with ocular symptoms and reactive syphilis serology need a full ocular examination, including cranial nerve evaluation. If cranial nerve dysfunction is present, a CSF evaluation is needed. Among persons with isolated ocular symptoms (i.e., no cranial nerve dysfunction or other neurologic abnormalities), confirmed ocular abnormalities on examination, and reactive syphilis serology, a CSF examination is unnecessary before treatment. CSF analysis can be helpful in evaluating persons with ocular symptoms and reactive syphilis serology who do not have ocular findings or cranial nerve dysfunction on examination. Among patients with isolated auditory abnormalities and reactive syphilis serology, CSF evaluation is likely to be normal and is unnecessary before treatment (583,584).

What to do if you have syphilis?

If you might have syphilis, your doctor will order a blood test. If this blood test is positive, the lab typically performs a second test on your blood to confirm that you have syphilis. If you have syphilis, you need treatment.

How is syphilis diagnosed and treated?

If your doctor recommends that you get tested for syphilis, knowing what to expect can help put your mind at ease. Here’s what happens from getting tested to treated.

How long does it take to get penicillin for syphilis?

Here’s how you may get the antibiotic: Early stage: One shot of penicillin. Late stage: Three shots of penicillin, with one shot given each week for three weeks. Syphilis affects your nervous system: Penicillin given through an IV (intravenous) infusion, with treatment given once a week for two weeks. To treat syphilis with penicillin, you need ...

How long after syphilis treatment can you have sex?

To treat syphilis with penicillin, you need a shot or IV infusion. Taking penicillin pills cannot cure you. You should not have sex for at least 1 week after treatment and until all symptoms have gone away.

Where do you report syphilis?

Your doctor is required by law to report all syphilis infections to the local health department. If you prefer, the health department can help notify your partner (s) that they need to be tested.

Can you take doxycycline for syphilis?

If your doctor decides to treat you with one of these antibiotics, you will need several follow-up appointments. These antibiotics can be less effective at treating syphilis.

Do you need a follow up appointment for syphilis?

Others get re-infected. During your follow-up appointments, you’ll have: A blood test to make sure you no longer have syphilis. Other medical tests if the disease was caught late.

What is the best medicine for syphilis?

Treating and curing syphilis. Primary and secondary syphilis are easy to treat with a penicillin injection. Penicillin is one of the most widely used antibiotics and is usually effective in treating syphilis. People who are allergic to penicillin will likely be treated with a different antibiotic, such as: doxycycline.

What to do if you have a sore from syphilis?

If a sore is present, your doctor may take a sample from the sore to determine if the syphilis bacteria are present. If your doctor suspects that you’re having nervous system problems because of tertiary syphilis, you may need a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap.

How long does it take for syphilis to start?

The primary stage of syphilis occurs about three to four weeks after a person contracts the bacteria. It begins with a small, round sore called a chancre. A chancre is painless, but it’s highly infectious. This sore may appear wherever the bacteria entered the body, such as on or inside the mouth, genitals, or rectum.

How long does it take for a sore to show up after a syphilis infection?

On average, the sore shows up around three weeks after infection, but it can take between 10 and 90 days to appear. The sore remains for anywhere between two to six weeks. Syphilis is transmitted by direct contact with a sore. This usually occurs during sexual activity, including oral sex.

What is the first sign of syphilis?

The first sign of syphilis is a small, painless sore. It can appear on the sexual organs, rectum, or inside the mouth. This sore is called a chancre. People often fail to notice it right away. Syphilis can be challenging to diagnose. Someone can have it without showing any symptoms for years.

How many cases of syphilis were reported in 2016?

In 2016, more than 88,000 cases of syphilis. were reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of women with syphilis has been declining in the United States, but the rate among men, particularly men who have sex with men, has been rising. The first sign of syphilis is a small, painless sore.

What happens if a baby has congenital syphilis?

If a baby has congenital syphilis and it isn’t detected, the baby can develop late stage syphilis. This can cause damage to their:

What antibiotics are prescribed for syphilis?

Your nurse or doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection — usually penicillin, unless you’re allergic or can’t take it for other reasons. If you’re having syphilis treatment, it’s really important for your sexual partners to get treated also.

What happens if I don’t get treated for syphilis?

Even though syphilis is common and has mild symptoms in the beginning, it can become a really big deal if it’s not treated. You can also easily pass it to other people.

Can syphilis be cured?

Syphilis can be easily cured with antibiotics. Your sexual partners need to be treated, too. If you don’t treat syphilis, it can lead to very serious health problems. X in a circle.

Does syphilis increase your chances of getting AIDS?

Having syphilis also increases your chances of getting or spreading HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Can syphilis be passed to a baby?

Syphilis can be passed to your fetus during pregnancy or to your baby at birth. This is called congenital syphilis, and it’s very dangerous. Congenital syphilis can lead to stillbirth, birth defects, or infant death. You should be tested for syphilis if you’re pregnant to make sure this doesn’t happen.

Can you get syphilis again after treatment?

Even if you finish your treatment and the syphilis is totally gone, it’s still possible to get a new syphilis infection again if you’re exposed in the future. Syphilis isn’t a one-time-only deal. So use condoms and/or dental dams and get tested regularly.

Is syphilis a common infection?

Just like how common cough and colds is to children, syphilis is also as common in the context of sexually transmitted infections. These sexually transmitted infections are becoming a concern because of the shooting incidences and cases as time passes.

Does syphilis give immunity?

Once treated, it should already be imbibed in one’s mind that acquiring syphilis does not give a person a lifetime immunity to the disease as it may happen time and again. The best thing one can do it to practice safe sex, have a single partner and continuously subject oneself to tests in order to check for remittance of the disease.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Coping and Support

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Karthikeya T M
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Syphilis treatment involves antibiotics. Sexual partner should also be treated.
Medication

Antibiotics: Drugs that are used to treat bacterial infections.

Penicillin . Tetracycline . Doxycycline

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

Complete the entire course of medications prescribed.

  • Avoid unsafe sex.
  • Avoid sharing sex toys.
  • Men having unprotected sex with other men are at higher risk.
  • Abstain from sexual contact until infection is cured, including kissing.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Foods which increase immunity like garlic onions carrots cauliflower and spinach
  • Dry fruits which boosts defence like walnut, almond and pumpkin seeds
  • Blue fish and eggs
  • Whole grain cereals like rice, wheat and oats

Foods to avoid:

  • Soured buttermilk
  • Heavy meals that take long time to digest

Specialist to consult

Infectious disease specialist
Specializes in dealing with the diagnosis, control and treatment of infections.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Preparing For Your Appointment

Nontreponemal Tests and Traditional Algorithm

  • Medication
    When diagnosed and treated in its early stages, syphilis is easy to cure. The preferred treatment at all stages is penicillin, an antibiotic medication that can kill the organism that causes syphilis. If you're allergic to penicillin, your doctor may suggest another antibiotic or recommend penicillin d…
  • Treatment follow-up
    After you're treated for syphilis, your doctor will ask you to: 1. Have periodic blood tests and exams to make sure you're responding to the usual dosage of penicillin. Your specific follow-up will depend on the stage of syphilis you're diagnosed with. 2. Avoid sexual contact with new part…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Treponemal Tests and Reverse Sequence Algorithm

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Cerebrospinal Fluid Evaluation

  • Finding out you have syphilis can be extremely upsetting. You might experience anger if you feel you've been betrayed, or shame if you think you've infected others. However, hold off placing blame. Don't assume that your partner has been unfaithful to you. One (or both) of you may have been infected by a past partner.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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