Organization of
Red Umbrella New Zealand
syphilis
Syphilis is becoming more common in New Zealand.
What is syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacterial infections of the genitals, mouth, and anus. Germs enter the body through tiny skin breaks, mainly through the genital area or mouth.
How do I know if I have syphilis?
Many people contract syphilis without any symptoms. Syphilis is divided into three stages, primary, secondary, and tertiary. Symptoms can occur in these infections.
Primary symptoms include:
Painless ulcers on the genitals or sexual contacts (such as the cervix, mouth, or anus). Ulcers usually appear 3-4 weeks after infection (sometimes longer). The ulcer disappeared on its own after a few weeks.
Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area.
Symptoms of secondary syphilis include:
The rash may appear on the body, face, arms, palms, and soles 6 weeks after infection. The rash lasts up to
4-6 weeks, it may be obvious or very slight, it will not be noticed.
One or more of the following symptoms may also exist: mouth ulcers, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, fever, hair loss, general fatigue, flat warts can grow on the genitals or anus.
Key point: syphilis at the primary or secondary stage is very contagious because of ulcers and rashes, full of syphilis bacteria. Sex partners have a very high chance of infection. Syphilis is usually not contagious for two years after infection.
Symptoms of tertiary syphilis include:
About one-third of people have damage to the heart, brain, and spinal nerves-if not for treatment at an earlier stage. The treatment will prevent further damage to the organs, but will not repair any damage that has already occurred.
How did you get this disease?
Possible ways of infection of syphilis:
Through close sexual contact with an infected person. This may include vaginal, anal or oral sex or just skin-to-skin contact.
Passed from the infected mother to the baby during pregnancy (syphilis can cause miscarriage or stillbirth).
Can syphilis be treated?
Diagnosis and treatment
Yes, if it can be detected early, use the antibiotic Benzathine penicillin and take multiple intramuscular injections. The earlier the discovery, the better the treatment effect. If no treatment is taken, it will cause great harm to the body.
Diagnosis is by blood or a sample from the ulcer, which is sent to the laboratory for analysis of antibodies. Ask your doctor or nurse if you can be tested for syphilis. The production of antibodies can take up to 3 months, so early tests may be negative. After treatment, it is important and indispensable to continue blood testing for at least one year to ensure healed treatment.
What should my sex partner do?
If you are diagnosed with syphilis, it is recommended that all sexual partners in the past few months must see a doctor or go to a local clinic.
If you have had sex with them and have had a rash or sore throat, they usually need treatment.
You should not have sex until you clear your rash or ulcer, because the infection will persist for a while after treatment. This is the only way to control the disease and protect the health of sex partners.
Anyone who has had sexual contact with an infected person must be checked and treated if necessary.
How can I protect myself and my guests from contracting syphilis?
Precaution:
If the client wants to continue, use the oral membrane to form a barrier in the area between your mouth, vagina or anus during intercourse.
Use of condoms and routine sexual health checks during vaginal, anal, or oral sex
common problem
Can I work with syphilis?
Syphilis is very contagious. If you use protective measures during sexual activity, or wait until you are treated with a doctor's antibiotic prescription, the infection will be completely cleared.
Do I need to tell my boss?
Your boss just needs to know that you are sick and need to stop working. If you need a doctor’s certificate, let the doctor not disclose the diagnosis, but you have to stop working for the specified number of days.
Do I need to stop working?
It is recommended that you stop working until you are completely clear of the infection. If you give yourself a rest, you will heal faster.
Should I tell my guests?
Since you will always use protective measures when you have sex, you don’t need to tell your clients your current sexual health. However, if the condom breaks during sexual intercourse, you should advise the client to perform a sexual health check.
more information
Contact New Zealand prostitutes, your local sexual health clinic or family planning committee
SYPHILIS
Syphilis is becoming more common in New Zealand.
WHAT IS SYPHILIS?
Syphilis is sexually transmitted bacterial infection of the genital, mouth and anus. It enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin mainly the genital area or the mouth.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE SYPHILIS?
Many people infected with Syphilis do not have any symptoms. For those who do get symptoms, Syphilis is divided into three stages; primary, secondary and tertiary.
Primary symptoms include:
A painless sore on the genitals or other sites of sexual contact (eg cervix, mouth or anus). The sore usually appears 3-4 weeks (sometime longer) after infection. The sore disappears on its own accord after a few weeks.
Swelling of the glands in the groin area.
Secondary symptoms include:
A rash about 6 weeks after infection may appear on the body, face, arms, palms of hands and soles of the feet. The rash lasts up to 4-6 six weeks and may be obvious or very mild that it goes unnoticed.
One or more of the following symptoms may also present: mouth ulcers, headache, swollen glands, fever, hair loss, general tiredness, flat warty growth in the genital or anal region.
IMPORTANT:
A person in primary or secondary stage of syphilis is very infectious because the sores and rashes are full of syphilis bacteria. There is a very high chance of infecting a sexual partner. After two years the person is usually not infectious to others.
Tertiary symptoms include:
Damage to the heart, brain and the nerves of the spinal cord in about a third of people-if not treated at an earlier stage. Treatment will prevent further damage to organs but will not repair any damage that has already taken place.
HOW IS IT CAUGHT?
Syphilis may be passed on:
By close sexual contact with an infected person. This may include vaginal, anal or oral sex or just close skin-to-skin contact.
From mother to baby during pregnancy (Syphilis can cause miscarriage or still-birth).
CAN SYPHILIS BE TREATED?
Diagnosis and Treatment
Yes, if caught early it can be treated using a singular intramuscular long acting Benzathine penicillin. The earlier it is treated the better. If untreated it can cause serious damage
Diagnosis is made by a blood test for antibodies or samples from the sores, to be sent for laboratory analysis. Ask your doctor or nurse if you can be tested for syphilis when having a check-up. It can take up to three months to develop antibodies, so the tests may be negative early on. After treatment, follow-up blood tests are essential for at least one year to ensure the treatment has been successful.
WHAT ABOUT MY PARTNER?
If you have been diagnosed with syphilis all your sexual partners from the last few months must be advised to visit their doctor or local clinic.
If you had sex with them while the rash or sore was present they will usually need treatment.
You should not have sex until your rash or sore clears up because you remain infectious for some time after treatment. This is the only way to control the disease and protect the health of sexual partners.
Anyone who has had sex with an infected person in the past must be tested and treated if necessary.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AND MY CLIENT FROM SYPHILIS?
Prevention is by use of:
Dental dams if the client wants to go down on you to create a barrier between the mouth and vagina or anal areas during sex.
Condoms during vaginal, anal or oral sex and having regular sexual health check-ups.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I work with Syphilis?
Syphilis is very contagious. If you work use protection when having sex or wait until the infection clears with the antibiotic treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Do I need to tell my boss?
Your boss only needs to know that you are sick and need time off from work. If you need a doctor's note instruct the doctor to not include the diagnosis and to specify the number of days you need off from work.
Do I have to stop working?
It is recommended that you take time off work until you have cleared the infection. If you rest you will be able to recover faster.
Should I tell my clients?
Since you will always use protection when having sex you shouldn't need to tell the client your current sexual health status. However, if a condom breaks during sex you should advise the client to get a sexual health check-up.
MORE INFORMATION?
Contact NZPC, your local Sexual Health Clinic or Family Planning Association.
