The number of people being diagnosed with syphilis in
the UK has risen considerably.
Syphilis is usually passed from one person to another during vaginal,
oral or anal sex. It can be passed on by direct skin contact with
someone who has syphilis sores or a syphilis rash, and by sharing sex
toys.
The signs and symptoms are the same in women and men, but they can be
difficult to recognise and you might not notice them.
Signs and Symptoms to look out for:
- One or more sores (chancres) - usually painless, they
appear where the bacteria entered the body, usually two to three weeks
after you've come into contact with syphilis
- The sores can appear anywhere on the body - in women
they're found mainly in the genital area and on the cervix, in men
they're found mainly in the genital area and on the penis
- Less commonly, they may be found in the mouth, lips,
tonsils, fingers or buttocks
If left untreated, after many years syphilis can cause serious damage
to the heart, brain, eyes and other internal organs and can lead to death.
This is rare in the UK.
|
