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Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The bacterium can be transmitted through genital, oral, or anal contact. The good news is that syphilis is easily cured with penicillin. The bad news is that this infection is on the rise.

 The number of reported syphilis cases rose over 70 percent from 2013 to 2017.

 Men, especially men who have sex with other men, are affected the most.

 Over 100,000 cases of syphilis were reported in 2017, with a rise in syphilis in heterosexual men and women.

 Syphilis can cause epididymitis in men and can be passed to an unborn child during pregnancy or at birth.

Syphilis frequently starts as a painless sore on such areas as the mouth, genitals, or rectum. The sore is called a chancre, and this stage of syphilis is called primary syphilis. The sore may never be noticed and heals without intervention in 3–6 weeks. The next stage of syphilis is called secondary syphilis and is hallmarked by a rash that is frequently painless but can occupy the entire body including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. This may continue for up to a year. The third stage of syphilis is called tertiary, and 15–30 percent of people infected with syphilis reach tertiary syphilis without treatment. Tertiary syphilis can lead to life-threatening problems with almost every system in the body and may not appear until years after the initial infection. Syphilis was a major cause of death until penicillin was available after World War II. In fact, it’s hit some pretty well-known people. Al Capone had tertiary syphilis, which destroyed his brain while he was incarcerated at Alcatraz. Capone was one of the first people to get penicillin, but it was too late. He eventually died at age 48 of heart disease believed to be related to his syphilis infection.

Babies born with syphilis contract the disease through the placenta or during birth. Usually the baby is initially without symptoms but eventually may develop deafness, teeth deformities, or saddle nose (loss of height of the nose.) Syphilis is diagnosed with blood or spinal fluid tests. The initial test is a screening test that does not miss many people who are infected. However, the screening test tells a number of people they do have syphilis when in fact they don’t. So, if the first test is positive, a second test is done which accurately identifies the people who truly are infected.

Syphilis is easily treated if diagnosed early. A single injection of penicillin can cure syphilis if diagnosed within a year of exposure, but after that a more extensive treatment with penicillin is needed. Other antibiotics may be used. Contrary to folklore, syphilis can’t be caught from a toilet seat.

Early detection of syphilis is key, and it can be easily treated with penicillin (or another antibiotic if you are allergic to penicillin). Don’t be afraid, embarrassed, or otherwise deterred from talking to your doctor about STIs. Ignoring syphilis can be devastating to you, your partner, and your child.