Can syphilis be cured?

Syphilis is a relatively serious sexually transmitted disease. The main mode of transmission is sexual transmission. Syphilis is divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary stages. There is also latent or congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis is generally transmitted from pregnant women to the fetus. The symptoms of syphilis at each stage are not exactly the same, but as long as it is confirmed that you are infected with syphilis, you must actively treat it and use appropriate medications. Never delay treatment to avoid aggravating the condition and causing more serious symptoms.

Syphilis is transmitted through sex, so you must pay attention to hygiene in your sex life. The most important thing is not to have sex with anyone casually, especially for those who do not love themselves and have multiple sexual partners. It is easy to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, which will not only harm yourself, but is more likely to cause greater impact on the future fetus. Here we will introduce some relevant content about syphilis.

1. Source of infection

Syphilis is a disease unique to humans. Patients with explicit and latent syphilis are sources of infection. The skin lesions, secretions, and blood of people infected with syphilis contain Treponema pallidum. It is most contagious in the first two years after infection, while the contagiousness of sexual transmission decreases significantly after four years. Treponema pallidum can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta, and pregnant women with early syphilis are at great risk of transmitting the disease to the fetus.

2. Transmission routes

Sexual contact is the main route of transmission of syphilis, accounting for more than 95%. Syphilis is most contagious in the early stages of infection. As the disease progresses, its infectiousness becomes less and less. It is generally believed that sexual contact more than 4 years after infection is very weakly infectious.

Pregnant women with syphilis can transmit the disease to their fetus through the placenta, causing intrauterine infection of the fetus, which can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or the birth of a child with congenital syphilis. It is generally believed that the earlier the onset of syphilis in a pregnant woman, the greater the chance of infection to the fetus. Pregnant women can still be contagious even if they have asymptomatic latent syphilis.

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1. Treatment principles

Emphasis is placed on early diagnosis, early treatment, regular treatment courses and adequate dosage. Clinical and laboratory follow-up were performed regularly after treatment. Sexual partners should be examined and treated together. Early syphilis can be clinically cured and its infectiousness eliminated through thorough treatment. Treatment of late syphilis can eliminate inflammation in tissues, but damaged tissues are difficult to repair.

Penicillins, such as aqueous penicillin, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, etc., are the first choice drugs for syphilis at different stages. Those who are allergic to penicillin can choose tetracycline, erythromycin, etc. Some patients may experience Jasper-Hertz reaction at the beginning of penicillin treatment, which can be prevented by starting with a small dose or using other drugs. After treatment of syphilis, serum should be checked every 3 months in the first year, and then every 6 months for a total of 3 years. Neurosyphilis and cardiovascular syphilis should be followed up lifelong.

2. Early syphilis (including primary, secondary syphilis and early latent syphilis)

(1) Penicillin therapy: Benzathine penicillin G (long-acting penicillin) is injected intramuscularly into both buttocks once a week for 2-3 times. Procaine penicillin G, intramuscular injection, for 10 to 15 consecutive days, total amount 8 million units to 12 million units.

(2) For those who are allergic to penicillin, take tetracycline hydrochloride orally for 15 consecutive days. Doxycycline, taken for 15 consecutive days.

3. Late syphilis (including tertiary skin, mucosal, and bone syphilis, late latent syphilis) and secondary recurrent syphilis

(1) Penicillin benzathine penicillin G, once a week, intramuscularly, for a total of 3 times. Procaine penicillin G, intramuscular injection, for 20 days. The treatment can be repeated once after an interval of 2 weeks.

(2) For those who are allergic to penicillin, take tetracycline hydrochloride orally for 30 days. Doxycycline, taken for 30 days.

4. Neurosyphilis

The patient should be hospitalized for treatment. To avoid the occurrence of Gibson-Hertz reaction during treatment, oral prednisone should be taken one day before the penicillin injection, once a day for 3 consecutive days.

(1) Aqueous penicillin G is given intravenously for 14 consecutive days.

(2) Procaine penicillin G is injected intramuscularly and probenecid is taken orally for 10 to 14 days.

After the above treatment, benzathine penicillin G is continued, once a week, intramuscularly, for 3 consecutive weeks.

5. Syphilis during pregnancy

Treatment should be given according to the syphilis treatment plan for the corresponding stage of the disease. One course of treatment should be applied within the first 3 months of pregnancy and one course of treatment should be applied in the last 3 months of pregnancy. For those who are allergic to penicillin, erythromycin is used for treatment. It should be taken for 15 days in early stage syphilis and for 30 days in secondary recurrent and late stage syphilis. The baby born to her should be treated with penicillin.

6. Congenital syphilis

Early congenital syphilis (under 2 years old) with abnormal cerebrospinal fluid: treatment with aqueous penicillin G or procaine penicillin G. The specific dosage is subject to the doctor's advice. For patients with normal cerebrospinal fluid: benzathine penicillin G, one injection (into the gluteal muscles on both sides). If there is no condition to examine the cerebrospinal fluid, the patient can be treated as a patient with abnormal cerebrospinal fluid.

7. Treatment of syphilis in pregnant women

(1) Married women with a history of syphilis must undergo a comprehensive syphilis test before pregnancy. Women who have had unclean sexual life or have been infected with syphilis should go to a regular hospital for a comprehensive syphilis test before planning to get pregnant. For married women who have completed syphilis treatment and whose syphilis symptoms are not obvious, they can only become pregnant after confirming that syphilis has been cured.

(2) Syphilis detection and treatment during pregnancy: Syphilis serological tests should be performed in the first 3 months and the last month of pregnancy. If syphilis is found, regular treatment should be received to reduce the chance of congenital syphilis.

8. The Jaguar-Hai reaction in the treatment of syphilis

Within a few hours after the first use of the drug for syphilis treatment, fever, headache, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and aggravation of the syphilitic rash may occur. These are called Jihai reactions, and the symptoms will usually be relieved within 24 hours. To prevent the occurrence of the Jasper-Hertz reaction, penicillin can be started from a small dose and gradually increased to the normal dose. For neurosyphilis and cardiovascular syphilis, a short course of prednisone can be given before treatment, administered in divided doses, and gradually discontinued 2 to 4 days after anti-syphilis treatment. Corticosteroids can reduce the fever of the Gilles reaction, but their effect on the local inflammatory response is uncertain.

9. Dietary considerations

The dietary adjustment after suffering from syphilis is the same as that of other infectious diseases. You should eat fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, eat less greasy food, avoid spicy food, quit smoking and drinking, and drink more water to help eliminate toxins in the body.

Syphilis can be cured, so if you find yourself infected with syphilis, you must actively seek treatment and do not delay, which will affect your recovery. In addition, you should not have sexual intercourse during the illness, as this will definitely infect your sexual partner. If syphilis is cured, you will need to undergo a detailed examination to confirm whether you have recovered before you can have a normal sexual life again.