Syphilis in men who have sex with men

Syphilis is classified as a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The clinical signs and symptoms of syphilis are sometimes not so typical and difficult to distinguish from other diseases.
Syphilis bacteria are transmitted from person to person through direct contact with syphilis sores. The sores appear mainly on the external genitalia, in the vagina, around the anus and in the rectum. Less commonly, syphilis sores may also appear on the lips and oral mucosa. Infection with the syphilis bacteria occurs during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. People with primary or secondary syphilis can infect others. A pregnant woman with syphilis can pass it on to her unborn baby. Syphilis is not spread by casual contact such as sharing toilets, holding doorknobs, swimming in pools or bathrooms, or by sharing clothes.

In recent years, an increase in the number of cases of syphilis among men who have sex with men has been noted. Statistics show that 20% to 70% of men with syphilis occur in people with HIV. Besides the fact that syphilis itself can lead to serious health problems, the existence of syphilis sores on a person's external genitals also increases the risk of sexually transmitted HIV. sex. In fact, the risk of HIV infection in patients with syphilis is 2 to 5 times higher. Sexually transmitted diseases that cause sores similar to syphilis are capable of breaking down the body's protective barriers. The sores on the external genitalia in syphilis are prone to bleeding. When there is contact during oral or anal sex, they increase the risk of HIV infection. Having STIs is also an important predictor of HIV susceptibility because STIs are evidence of behavior related to infection. HIV.

Primary stage
The primary stage of syphilis is defined by the appearance of the first single sore, but most people develop multiple sores at the same time. The time from when the body is infected with syphilis bacteria to the first clinical symptoms can last from 10 to 90 days, with an average of about 21 days. At first, syphilis sores appear like boils, but then rapidly progress to small, round, hard-bottomed sores that are painless. If they appear inside the vagina or anus, this primary stage is easy to miss. The location of the sores corresponds to where the syphilis bacteria entered the human body. Typically, syphilis sores can persist for three to six weeks, and they may heal on their own without treatment or respond well to treatment. However, if treatment measures are not indicated enough, the disease often progresses to the secondary stage.

Secondary stage
The secondary stage of syphilis is characterized by erythema of the skin and ulcers in the mucosa. This stage typically begins with the appearance of a nonpruritic erythema over one or more areas of the body. Erythema in secondary syphilis may appear while the first sore is healing or weeks later. The rash of secondary syphilis is characterized by rough, red or brownish red nodules on the palms of the hands and feet. However, erythematous nodules with other characteristics can appear on other parts of the body, sometimes mimicking those seen in other conditions. Sometimes, the skin rashes are quite pale and unrecognizable. Besides the skin rash, secondary syphilis can include symptoms such as high fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, hair loss, headache, weight loss, muscle aches, and general fatigue. . The signs and symptoms of secondary syphilis will go away on their own with treatment, but if left untreated, the disease can progress to later stages.
Late stage syphilis
Late stage syphilis occurs when secondary symptoms disappear. The infection persists if the patient is not treated. In the late stages of syphilis, internal organs including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, and skeletal system can be destroyed. Manifestations of this condition can appear for many years afterward. Signs and symptoms of late-stage syphilis include difficulty with coordination, paralysis, paresthesias, progressive loss of vision, and memory loss. Death is the worst that a patient with syphilis can experience.

There are two different blood tests required to determine if a person really has syphilis. Immediately after infection with the bacteria that causes syphilis, the body will produce antibodies against syphilis. These antibodies can be detected in an inexpensive, safe, and accurate blood test. Antibody levels gradually decrease and stay at a low level in the blood for months to years, even after a person has completely recovered from the disease.

Syphilis is quite easy to treat if detected in its early stages. Single doses of antibiotics can successfully treat people with syphilis for up to a year. Additional doses are needed for the treatment of cases of syphilis for more than one year. The use of antibiotics to treat the disease is aimed at killing syphilis bacteria and preventing further complications of the disease. The treatment does not work to restore the damage that has appeared before. There is no over-the-counter medicine that can treat syphilis, patients should not self-treat the disease to avoid skipping the early stages with a high success rate of treatment.
Current treatment measures are quite effective, but in some cases when there is an infection, but the patient does not know the cause as well as the treatment, screening for syphilis is a necessary job, especially with the target group with unsafe sex behaviors.

Patients with syphilis during treatment must abstain from sex with a new partner until the syphilis sores are completely healed. Sexual partners of infected patients should be tested for diagnosis and treated if infected concurrently.

The safest way to avoid STIs, including syphilis, is to abstain from sex or stay faithful to a partner who has been tested for the disease.
Avoiding alcohol and drugs also helps prevent the spread of syphilis because these activities can lead to risky sex behaviors. It is also important to have a frank discussion of the health status and history of STIs between two partners so that effective preventive measures can be put in place.
For those who engage in risky sex practices, using a condom or diaphragm during oral sex can help prevent the spread of gonorrhea. However, diseases that cause sores on the external genitalia, such as gonorrhea, are transmitted by direct contact. Therefore, the use of condoms or diaphragms is only effective when fully covering the affected areas.
Cleaning the external genitalia and urinary tract after sex is not effective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis. Any abnormality such as erythema, sores, especially in the groin area should be taken as a sign of sexual restriction and consult a specialist immediately for advice and examination. .
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package of Examination and Screening for social diseases to help customers detect diseases early and have effective treatment and prevent dangerous complications. The screening package for social diseases at Vinmec is for all ages, both men and women.

Reference source: webmd.com