Let's Find Out How to Prevent Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) subspecies pallidum with genital ulcers and complications if left untreated and can facilitate the transmission of HIV infection. Syphilis can be asymptomatic (asymptomatic) or symptomatic in the form of red rashes on the skin, sores on the genitals, lumps, and so on.

Prevention of syphilis can be done by:

• Do not have sexual intercourse before marriage.
• Loyalty to a spouse
• Use of condoms
• Do not consume narcotics, psychotropics, or addictive substances (NAPZA).
• Screening for syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections
• Early partner detection and therapy

Syphilis Test

Blood tests are a diagnostic tool for syphilis and consist of treponemal and non-treponemal examinations. Standard nontreponemal examinations include Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) and Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) examinations. Non-treponemal antibody titers are related to disease activity and are used to see the response to treatment. A reactive nontreponemal examination must be confirmed with a treponemal examination such as the Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination Assay (TPHA) or a rapid syphilis test (TP Rapid) to establish the diagnosis of syphilis. Non-treponemal antibodies persisting after therapy may indicate a failure of immune tolerance.

Syphilis Screening

Screening for syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections is carried out in high-risk groups and pregnant women. Screening is also important for identifying asymptomatic patients. Male patients who have sex with men (MSM) who are sexually active should be screened at least annually and every 3 to 6 months if at high risk (e.g., the patient or sexual partner has multiple partners).

Pregnant women are screened at the first prenatal visit, with repeat examinations early in the third trimester and at delivery if they are at high risk of syphilis. Screening of syphilitic patients with sexually active HIV infection should be performed at the first HIV evaluation and then at least annually, with screening occurring more frequently depending on individual risk behavior and local epidemiology.

In communities and populations at high risk of congenital syphilis, serologic testing and sexual history should be obtained at 28 weeks' gestation and at delivery. In this examination, as part of the management of pregnant women with syphilis, information about the treatment of sexual partners must be known to assess the risk of re-infection. Routine screening of serum from newborns or cord blood is not recommended. Maternal serum serological examination is preferable to infant serum serological examination because the infant serum serological test may become non-reactive if the mother's serological titer results are low or the mother is infected with syphilis in late pregnancy.

Early partner detection and therapy

Early detection and therapy for sexual partners with syphilis are carried out if they have sexual intercourse within 3 months after syphilis symptoms appear on the genitals, 6 months after symptoms of a syphilis skin rash appear, and 12 months to 24 months in patients with syphilis without symptoms. Examination and laboratory results suggest syphilis in sexual partners can be treated with therapy.

If the closest person or yourself experiences some of the symptoms mentioned above, immediately contact the nearest health service and go to a skin and genital specialist for further examination.