THEGAYUK

Tag: Syphilis

All the latest breaking news on Syphilis. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Syphilis.

  • Everything you need to know about Syphilis

    Everything you need to know about Syphilis

    Syphilis is a sexually acquired infection caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, a spirochete bacterium.

    In the UK, syphilis infection is relatively uncommon but diagnoses in men and women have increased over the past decade. In 2015 there were 107,000 reported deaths from Syphilis worldwide.

    Who gets syphilis?

    Anyone who has sex can get syphilis. People most at risk are those having unprotected sexual intercourse (i.e. not using a condom or in gay terms, barebacking), those with more than one sexual partner, and those who change partners frequently. The simplest way to protect yourself is with condoms.

    How do you catch syphilis?

    Syphilis is caught through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal intercourse or genital contact with an infected partner.

    Syphilis cannot be caught by casual contact (toilet seats, swimming pools and saunas).

    How do you know that you have syphilis?

    What are the symptoms of Syphilis
    Bru-nO / Pixabay

    The symptoms of syphilis are not specific. Initial presentation is usually one or more painless but highly infectious sores (primary infection) which appear at the site of infection. These sores disappear within two to six weeks in the absence of treatment.

    Secondary symptoms may develop 6 weeks to 6 months after the onset of primary sores. Later symptoms are highly variable, but may include a rash on the palms or soles.

    Late syphilis occurs four or more years after an untreated primary infection. Complications may occur in the mucocutaneous tissue, heart, respiratory tract or central nervous system.

    How serious is syphilis?


    Syphilis can cause a variety of issues from the seemingly unserious, like headaches but can escalate to stroke, hearing loss and sexual dysfunction. The Mayo Clinic lists some of the problems the disease can cause to your nervous system:

    • Headache
    • Stroke
    • Meningitis
    • Hearing loss
    • Visual problems, including blindness
    • Dementia
    • Loss of pain and temperature sensations
    • Sexual dysfunction in men (impotence)
    • Bladder incontinence

    Without treatment, syphilis can damage your heart, brain or other organs, and can be life-threatening.

    What protection is there against syphilis?

    Sexually active people can reduce their risk of syphilis by reducing their numbers of partners and using condoms or dental dams.

    How is syphilis diagnosed?

    Syphilis can be diagnosed by detection of the organism in the ulcer. Antibodies to syphilis can also be detected in the blood. Samples must be taken by a health care professional.

    Genitourinary medicine clinics (also called STI clinics) have the equipment and facilities for testing and for contacting, testing and treating sexual partners. Details of these clinics can be found in the telephone book, from the local hospital or from the NHS choices sexual health website. Clinics are completely confidential and will not inform GPs of results unless requested to do so. Anyone can attend one of these clinics at any age (even if under the age of consent to sex which is 16). Appointments are not required.

    A person with suspected syphilis should also be tested for other sexually transmitted infections which may be present without symptoms.

    How is syphilis treated?

    Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics.

    All current and recent sexual partners should be tested and treated to prevent re-infection and the further spread of disease. Treatment should be offered whether or not they show any signs of infection Public Health England’s mission is to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities through working with national and local government, the NHS, industry and the voluntary and community sector. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health.

    Taken from Public Health England.

  • Can you catch syphilis from oral?

    Can you catch syphilis from oral?

    Syphilis can be spread through all manner of sexual encounters and oral sex is one of them.

    Can you catch syphilis from oral sex
    Bru-nO / Pixabay

    Startling statistics from 2016 show that gay and bisexual men make up 90 percent of new syphilis infections in London and that London’s rate is three times higher than the rest of England – so syphilis is clearly a very infectious disease.

    Syphilis can be spread by vaginal, oral and anal sex or genital contact with an infected person. Most cases of syphilis are treatable with antibiotics and it is preventable through safer sex practices which include using condoms, regularly being tested and avoiding overlapping sexual relationships.

    Speaking to THEGAYUK.com Doctor Rick Viney said, “It’s very easy to contract syphilis in this way (through oral) It will present with an obvious ulcer on a mucosal surface in the mouth but will be painless”.

    How do you know that you have syphilis?

    There are no specific symptoms for syphilis. There will be the presence of one or more painless but highly infectious sores (primary infection) which appear at the site of infection. These sores disappear within two to six weeks in the absence of treatment.

    Secondary symptoms may develop six weeks to six months after the initial sores. Later symptoms are highly variable, but may include a rash on the palms or soles.

    Late syphilis occurs four or more years after an untreated primary infection. Complications may occur in the mucocutaneous tissue, heart, respiratory tract or central nervous system.

    How is syphilis diagnosed?

    Syphilis can be diagnosed via a simple blood test, which can be provided at a sexual health clinic.

    How can you protect against syphilis?

    Syphilis is preventable with the use of condoms when having sex – vaginal, anal and oral. You can use dental dams for oral sex. Regular sexual health screening will also help combat the spread.

     

     

  • Syphilis is on the rise – up 97 percent from 2012

    Gay and bisexual men are being warned to take extra precautions as official figures show that syphilis infections are on the increase.

    Data released by NHS England has shown that new syphilis infections have increased dramatically over the last five years. Stats show that in the last year alone there has been a 12 percent rise, but there has been an overall increase of 97 percent from 2012.

    NHS England noted that most cases were associated with gay and bisexual men. In 2015 there were 5281 new cases reported, this rose to 5920 in 2016.

    What is syphilis?

    Syphilis is a bacterial infection and is usually spread through having sex with someone who is infected (including sharing sex toys.) Treatment usually involves antibiotics but the infection can cause serious health problems if left untreated long-term.

    Speaking about the new data, Dr Patrick French, CNWL Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV, said,

    “There is some room for optimism in today’s release of the 2016 Sexually Transmitted Infection and HIV figures from Public Health England. The dramatic reduction in the number of new HIV infections among gay men shows that HIV testing, HIV treatment and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis are paying dividends and the reduction in genital warts in heterosexual women and men indicate that HPV vaccination for girls in the UK is working well.

    “On the other hand a further rise in syphilis rates is deeply disappointing. An infection which had been eradicated in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s has now returned and is at its highest levels since 1949. Syphilis increases the risk of transmitting HIV, can cause life-threatening heart and brain conditions and serious problems in pregnancy. This increase in syphilis shows that there is still a lot to be done and sexual health promotion and easy access to high quality testing and treatment services for people at risk of STIs remain a public health priority.

    “People with STIs and HIV often have no symptoms so it’s important to have a check-up if you think you may be at risk. Having the tests is very straightforward and you can make find out about where our clinics are and how to make an appointment at www.sexualhewalth.cnwl.nhs.uk. “

  • Gay and bisexual men make up 90 per cent of syphilis cases in London

    Gay and bisexual men make up 90 per cent of syphilis cases in London

    Startling statistic show that gay and bisexual men are taking huge risks with their health as they make up 90 per cent of syphilis cases in London.

    (C) BIGSTOCK

    A new report released by Public Health England (PHE) shows that the rate of syphilis diagnoses is three times higher among Londoners than anywhere else in England. In 2015 nearly 3,000 cases were diagnosed in the capital, accounting for 56% of all cases in England (5,042).

    Syphilis, like other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), is transmitted through sexual activity including oral sex. Most cases of syphilis are treatable with antibiotics and it is preventable through safe sex practices which include using condoms, regularly being tested and avoiding overlapping sexual relationships.

    With cases of syphilis continuing to increase in recent years (since 2010 cases among Londoners have soared by 163%) PHE is raising awareness of syphilis and reminding Londoners to practice safe sex, which prevents infection.

    Syphilis has been diagnosed in all 33 London local authorities and in 2015 most saw an increase in numbers. Cases of syphilis have been reported among heterosexuals and gay and bisexual men. However gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by the infection. Despite representing around 2% of the London population, in 2015 gay and bisexual men made up 90% of all syphilis cases. This group has seen an 18% increase in cases from 2014 to 2015 alone.

    This continued rise in syphilis cases in the capital suggests that too many Londoners are putting themselves at risk through unsafe sex.

    Although most cases of syphilis are treatable with antibiotics, people can be infected and not show any symptoms for years; treatment is more effective the earlier syphilis is diagnosed and so more awareness is needed around the infection.

    Syphilis progresses through three main stages. Primary syphilis infection will often present about three to four weeks after someone has been infected with the bacteria and individuals may develop a painless ulcer or rash (lasting for three to six weeks) on the genitals, rectum or inside the mouth, which people can fail to notice straight away. The infection then develops into the secondary stage causing fever, headaches and night sweats (among others). If left untreated it can progress into latent and late-stage syphilis. This stage of the STI is characterised by more serious and damaging health complications including cardiovascular problems and central nervous disease; it can even be fatal.

    Dr Yvonne Doyle, regional director for PHE London, said:

    “Worsening sexual health remains one of the biggest public health concerns facing London and it is worrying to see such alarming rises in syphilis year-on-year. Most cases of syphilis are treatable with antibiotics and it is preventable if you practice safe sex.

    “We are seeing large increases in cases of syphilis among men who have sex with men and they now represent 90% of syphilis cases in London. Although diagnoses among heterosexuals in the capital are more stable they too continue to be higher than we would like given the effective preventative measures in place.

    “In London we have excellent open access sexual health services providing free STI testing and treatment, notification for the sexual partners of those diagnosed with an STI and free provision of contraception. With these services available across the capital there is no reason for people to be taking unnecessary risks with their sexual health.

    “I hope today’s report will further raise awareness of sexually transmitted infections including syphilis and drive home the messages about the importance of practising safe sex, which includes using condoms, regularly being tested and avoiding overlapping sexual relationships. All of these will reduce the risk of STIs.

    “Improving the sexual health of Londoners is a priority area for PHE London and we will continue to work with partners across the healthcare system to reduce the burden of poor sexual health in the capital.”

    Dr Patrick French, a sexual health specialist and genitourinary medicine consultant at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, said,

    “When I started working in sexual health in London we might have diagnosed four or five people with syphilis in a year; we can now see that number of people with syphilis in a day or two.

    “Syphilis has established itself as a major problem in London among men who have sex with men, but there is now a considerably smaller but worrying rise among heterosexuals.

    “The increase we are seeing in syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections is a marker of a more general problem within sexual health and tackling this must be a priority across London. More awareness is needed around STIs, how they can be prevented and why it is important to have a check-up if you think you are at risk. Anyone having sex with new or casual partners should always use condoms and have regular sexual health checks.”

     

    PHE recommendations for safe sex

        • Anyone who suspects they may have syphilis should get screened at their local sexual health clinic as soon as possible.
        • Consistent and correct condom use, reducing the number of sexual partners and the avoidance of overlapping sexual relationships all reduce the risk of acquiring Sexually Transmitted Infections.
    • For people in the highest risk groups, getting screened regularly will lead to early diagnosis and treatment, which is vital as some STIs can be symptomless.

     

    PHE recommendations for safe sex among gay and bisexual men.

    • Have an HIV and STI screen at least annually and every three months if you are having unprotected sex with casual or new sexual partners.
    • Always use a condom correctly and consistently, and until all partners have had a sexual health screen.
    • Reduce the number of sexual partners and avoid overlapping sexual relationships.
    • Unprotected sex with partners believed to be of the same HIV status (serosorting) is unsafe. For the HIV positive person, there is a high risk of acquiring other STIs and hepatitis. For the HIV negative person, there is a high risk of acquiring HIV infection as well as acquiring STIs and hepatitis.