Syphilis

Bacterial (can affect the genitals, throat or backside)

1st stage of infection is normally a small, painless sore or ulcer that you may or may not notice on, in or around the genitals, mouth or backside
You may get swollen glands
The sore and swollen glands will pass after 2-8 weeks
2nd stage of infection can be a blotchy red rash that can appear all over the body especially on your hands and feet.
You may get swollen glands again or feel like you have the flu and some people even can even get white patches in their mouth
This may pass after a few week but could reoccur.
3rd stage of infection happens several years down the line, this is where the infection has spread to parts of the body like the brain or nervous system.
May cause strokes, numbness, blindness, heart problems, difficulty breathing, loss of co-ordination and in the worst case death

Sharing sex toys without using a condom each time or washing them between partners
Unprotected sex, be it vaginal, anal or oral, with an infected person
Between mother and baby
Remember…..they may not know that they have it because they haven’t had any symptoms.

Antibiotics injection given in the buttocks, normally one dose will do but if the infection has been in the body a while you may need more.

If someone is unable to have the injections then the treatment can be given in tablet form for anything between 2-4 weeks.

If the infection has not cleared up then you may have to go back on antibiotics until it cleared.

Once you’ve had Syphilis, you can get it again.

Remember…..no having sex for at least 14 days after your treatment, it’s to ensure the infection is well and truly cleared.