Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is not spread through casual contact, such as sharing drinks. It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that primarily requires direct contact with infectious sores.
How Syphilis is Transmitted
Syphilis is most commonly transmitted through direct contact with a syphilis sore, known as a chancre, during sexual activity. Chancres are typically firm, round, and often painless, making them easy to miss. They can appear on or around the genitals, anus, rectum, lips, or in the mouth. Transmission can occur when these sores come into contact with the mucous membranes or abraded skin of another person.
The bacteria responsible for syphilis, Treponema pallidum, cannot survive for long outside the human body. Environmental transmission through inanimate objects is highly unlikely as the bacteria die quickly when exposed to dry environments or sunlight.
Beyond sexual contact, syphilis can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth. This is known as congenital syphilis and can lead to severe health problems for the infant if untreated. The bacteria can cross the placenta and infect the fetus. While less common, transmission through contaminated blood transfusions or shared needles has also been reported.
Common Misconceptions About Syphilis Transmission
This means you cannot contract syphilis from sharing drinks, eating utensils, or food. The bacteria quickly perish once they are outside the human body and exposed to the environment.
Other common misconceptions include transmission through toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, or from sharing clothes or towels. These scenarios do not allow for the direct, sustained contact with infectious sores necessary for the bacteria to transfer and establish an infection.
Understanding Syphilis
If left untreated, syphilis progresses through distinct stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Each stage presents different characteristics, though symptoms can be mild or absent, particularly in the early phases.
The primary stage typically involves the appearance of one or more chancres at the site of infection, usually 10 to 90 days after exposure. These sores heal on their own, even without treatment, but the infection persists. The secondary stage often develops weeks after the chancre heals and can manifest as a non-itchy rash, along with other symptoms like fever, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue.
Following the secondary stage, syphilis can enter a latent phase where there are no visible signs or symptoms, yet the bacteria remain in the body. This stage can last for years. If still untreated, the infection may progress to the tertiary stage, which can cause severe damage to organs such as the heart, brain, and nerves, leading to serious health complications or even death. Early diagnosis and treatment, typically with antibiotics, are effective in curing syphilis and preventing its progression to later, more damaging stages.