There are many human diseases
passed on from one person to another through sexual contact. Some of these
diseases are notifiable to the Public and Environmental Health Service. These
diseases are notifiable because of their ability to cause potentially serious
conditions to those infected and their sexual partners. Notifiable STIs are
illnesses, which can be easily passed on to others by an infected person.
Confidentiality is important
when STIs are notified to the Public and Environmental Health Service. State
legislation orders that notifications have names and addresses deleted from them
and are therefore received in coded form. A person’s treating clinician or those
whom the person chooses to tell, should be the only ones who know identifying
information regarding a notifiable STI.
By far the most common notifiable
STIs in Tasmania are ones caused by bacteria. These
diseases are chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis. It’s important to remember,
however, that unprotected sexual contact not only puts people at risk of
bacterial STIs but also potentially exposes people to the HIV virus which can
lead to AIDS.
Caused by a bacteria, acquired through sexual contact with
an infected person, syphilis can go on to cause damage to the body if left
untreated, yet it is easily cured by a series of antibiotic
injections.
How do I know if I’m infected?
Usually people
become aware of infection by noticing a small, painless round ulcer-like sore on
or around the genital region, the lips, or wherever the body has come in contact
with the partner’s infected area. The sore can show up after around 10 days but
if its internal (inside the vagina or anus) it may go unnoticed. A blood test is
a sure way to detect an infection, past or present.
Untreated
Syphilis
Six to eight weeks after infection further lesions may appear
anywhere on the body, along with swollen lymph glands, possible joint pain and
rashes of various kinds.
If untreated, syphilis can lay dormant in the
body for long periods of time and can be passed on to the unborn child leading
to congenital syphilis.
Much later in the infection syphilis may go on to
cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, nervous system and skin, so as
you can see, syphilis is serious yet simple to treat.
How is it
Cured
Syphilis is cured by a series of antibiotic injections after which
further tests are conducted to make sure that the disease is cured. As the
infection can be passed on by unprotected sex, it is important that sexual
partners of those infected become screened and, it necessary, treated for
syphilis.
It is essential that people undergoing treatment cease all
sexual activity until completely cured. Follow up blood tests will confirm that
the antibiotics have cleared the illness.
Could I be re
infected?
It is possible to be re infected with syphilis or many other
STIs even after a person has been cured. Using condoms with water based
lubricant or dental dams during sexual intercourse or oral sex is the way to be
as safe possible from syphilis or other STIs such as HIV.
For free and
confidential information on, and treatment for STIs, including syphilis, and
information on safer sex, contact the Sexual Health Service in your area, or
phone 1800 765 859, free call from anywhere in Tasmania.
Syphilis is a
notifiable disease.