Ursula Pang - What Is Syphilis?

Published in 2022 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010

Copyright 2022 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

First Edition

Portions of this work were originally authored by Philip Wolny and published as Syphilis. All new material in this edition was authored by Ursula Pang.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Pang, Ursula, author.
Title: What is syphilis? / Ursula Pang
Description: New York : Rosen Publishing, [2022] | Series: Sexual health awareness | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021035646 (print) | LCCN 2021035647 (ebook) | ISBN 9781499472288 (library binding) | ISBN 9781499472271 (paperback) | ISBN 9781499472295 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Syphilis--History. | Sexually transmitted diseases.
Classification: LCC RC201 .P22 2022 (print) | LCC RC201 (ebook) | DDC 616.95/13--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021035646
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021035647

Manufactured in the United States of America

Some of the images in this book illustrate individuals who are models. The depictions do not imply actual situations or events.

CPSIA Compliance Information: Batch #CWRYA22. For further information contact Rosen Publishing, New York, New York at 1-800-237-9932.

CHAPTER 1
Syphilis Makes a Comeback

CHAPTER 2
Stages and Symptoms of Syphilis

CHAPTER 3
Getting Tested for Syphilis

CHAPTER 4
Treatment and Support

CHAPTER 5
Staying Smart About Syphilis

CHAPTER 6
Coping and Moving Forward

syphilis may sound like a thing of the past. After all, isnt that the disease that killed mob boss Al Capone (1899-1947) and, possibly, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)? Who gets syphilis anymore? Is it something teens have to worry about today?

While today syphilis is curable in its early stages and treatable in its late stages, its still a threat to people. When penicillin was first used to treat syphilis in the 1940s, rates began to drop dramatically in the United States. They continued dropping until around 2000 and 2001, but then they started to increase again. In 2018, the rate of syphilis cases hit a record high since 1991, with 115,045 cases (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC). That same year, researchers at the University of California Los Angeles reported that each year, there are 6 million new cases of syphilis worldwide in people aged 15 to 49. Complications of untreated syphilis are serious, and even more so when a person also has HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

In the past, people couldnt identify syphilis until the disease was very obvious. Now, doctors can identify this infection with a simple blood test.

If syphilis is treatable, then whats the big deal? Syphilis may respond very well to penicillin, but its also very dangerous if left untreated. It can easily be transmitted through sex-vaginal, anal, and oral with an infected person. And while early symptoms of the disease may seem very mild or even be invisible in some people, complications arise in later stages of untreated syphilis. Throughout history, untreated syphilis led to severe disability and even death. Thats still a serious threat today in places of the world without adequate health care and resources.

Syphilis isnt something many people think about when theyre deciding if theyre going to have sex. But its better to consider the risks and work to prevent it than to have to deal with a positive diagnosis. If youre going to have sex, youre going to have to think about STIs (sexually transmitted infections), which can turn into STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). This might seem like a downer, but knowledge gives you the power to keep yourself and your partner safe from illness.

If you do contract syphilis, its not the end of the world, but it does need to be taken seriously. It really pays to muster the courage to confront a possible infection head on. Some people ignore it, hoping it goes away. But delaying diagnosis and treatment only gives syphilis a chance to cause more damage to your body and infect other people.

STDs, including syphilis, dont only cause physical symptoms and suffering. They can also cause embarrassment, anger, anxiety, and depression. Coping with an STD requires attention to your mental and emotional well-being, a strong support system, and self-care. Socially, STDs may cause embarrassment and shame, leading people to hide their infections.

Getting the news that you have an STD canbe really hard. Having strong coping skillscan help you get through difficult moments.

Syphilis can affect people of any sexual orientation and gender identity. However, its important to know how STDs can affect you based on your assigned sex at birth (a label based on your hormones, chromosomes, and genitals at birth) or the body parts you have. Although it might feel wrong to think of yourself with that assigned label, those genetic, hormonal, and anatomical factors play a role in how STDs affect you. For example, biological males contract syphilis at a higher rate than biological females. However, biological females have a different concernif theyre pregnant while having syphilis, they could suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth, or they could have a baby with congenital syphilis.

You can arm yourself with the greatest protection against syphilisknowledge. The more you know, the more you can be empowered to make the right choices for you. You can understand how to prevent syphilis and how to recognize its symptoms. You can learn how to get tested and deal with a positive diagnosis. Hopefully one day, with education and medicine, syphilis can truly be a disease of the past.

For transgender people who are transitioning through hormone therapy or surgery, its important to understand the ways in which specific STDs can affect your body.

B acteria exists everywhere in the world and everywhere in our bodies. These tiny microorganisms can only be seen with magnifying tools such as microscopes. Some bacteria are beneficial, such as good bacteria in the gut that helps you digest food. Other bacteria can be harmful or even deadly.

Harmful bacteria can lead to major health problems, and even death. Treponema pallidum is a spirochetea long, thin, coiled bacterium. It can harm several organ systems, and it can be fatal if left unchecked. We can take a look throughout history to see how this bacterium has affected people around the worldand how it poses a threat today.