What is syphilis?
Syphilis is an infection that is caused by bacteria. Syphilis is usually sexually transmitted from one person to another. It can cause serious health problems. It has to be treated. It is a reportable infection, meaning that if you test positive for Syphilis, you will be contacted by a clinic or health department and asked to provide the contact information for current and past sexual partners for notification and testing purposes. Your name is not disclosed when a current or past sexual partner is notified.

How do you get syphilis?
You can get syphilis if you have oral sex, vaginal sex, or anal sex with a person who already has the infection. Syphilis can cause sores around the genitals and mouth, and a rash on the skin. The infection can be passed on through these sores and the rash. Some people with syphilis may have no sores or rash, but can still pass on the infection. A pregnant woman with syphilis can pass on the infection to her baby before it is born.

How can you tell if you have syphilis?
In most cases the first symptom is a sore that doesn’t hurt. It is called a chancre. You may not notice this sore. The sore goes away even if it is not treated. Three to sixteen months later, you may get a body rash and feel like you have the flu. This feeling can last for weeks or months. If you don’t treat the syphilis, you may get very sick. You may develop problems with your brain, liver, or arteries. You may not have any symptoms but still get very sick.

How do you get tested for syphilis?
A blood test can confirm whether or not you have syphilis.

How is syphilis treated?
You should be treated for syphilis as soon as you find out that you have it. Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics, usually penicillin. You will get one or more injections of penicillin, on a weekly basis. It is important to go each week for your injection until the treatment is finished. If you are allergic to penicillin, you will be given another antibiotic. You should tell your sexual partner(s) that you have syphilis. They need to get treated too.

Do you need a follow-up test?
Yes. The clinician will do a few blood tests to make sure that the infection is gone.

How do you prevent passing the infection on to your
partner(s)?
Once you have had a negative follow up test, you can no
longer pass on the infection, and you are cured. Until you
have a negative follow up test, you may be able to pass on the infection.