Syphilis
A name that you may have heard before: Syphilis. An STD that is caused by a bacterium that settles in the vagina, penis, anus and sometimes in the mouth. Are you horrified? Excellent! Then you are firmly motivated to prevent Syphilis, because this is a serious one. Are you already the proverbial "Sjaak"? I'm going to tell you more about the symptoms and treatment here.
With Syphilis, two or twelve weeks after infection, one or more sores can develop on the penis, vagina, anus or mouth. The lymph nodes in the area of these ulcers get inflated. This will disappear automatically within 2 to 3 weeks. There is a big fat "but": the disease is not over then! A few weeks later, the second stage of the disease starts.
In stage two, the syphilis bacteria is spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. If the disease is not treated at this stage, it enters the slumber stage where you hardly have any complaints but are contagious.
Later, sometimes even after years, various organs can be damaged: the brain, the spinal cord, the heart, the aorta and the bones. A serious STD.
How do I know if I have Syphilis?
Now that you know the seriousness, I can imagine that you really want to know where you are at. Anyway: when in doubt, go to the doctor! I describe symptoms here, but do me a favor and don't play the doctor yourself. (Role playing doctor together, yes! Playing doctor/specialist, no!)
Symptoms of Syphilis
- Spots on the skin, all over your body (especially on your palms and soles)
- Flu-like (headache, sore throat, tired, increase)
- Hair loss
- Eye complaints with eyeball inflammation and vision loss
- A type of wart near your genitals or anus
If you are on time, Syphilis can be treated well. But then you have to ring the bell on time. I therefore just say it again: If in doubt, go to the doctor!
Prevention
I am a sucker for prevention is better than cure. I do not go to the doctor as a hobby, with my legs wide and being told that I have not been so smart. For people who prefer to do something different: use a condom for anal, vaginal and oral contact. Use for licking and rimming (licking the anus) a licking pad. Avoid unprotected contact between the genitals (even when you only use your hands). Be careful when sharing sex toys: clean them or put on a condom that you swap before "passing on".
Datum: 21-06-'19
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