Syphilis is a highly contagious disease spread mainly by sexual activity- vaginal sex, anal sex or oral sex. Syphilis can also be caused by prolonged kissing or close bodily contact of the infected person. The HIV window period for Syphilis is the time between- when a person is actually exposed to HIV infection and when the test they undergo confirms the result of them being HIV positive. It is to be noted that in the HIV window period, people can test HIV negative even if they are infected with the HIV virus. Not all tests display 100% accurate results.
There is a four weeks window period for a 4th generation antigen/antibody test. If checked during this time, 95% of infections will be detected. Syphilis can also cause abnormalities to the unborn child.
What causes Syphilis?
Syphilis is an HIV infection that is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Can HIV be cured in people suffering from Syphilis?
The answer is yes- if diagnosed earlier! Syphilis was once considered major public health threat that caused serious long-term health problems such as arthritis, brain damage, and blindness. There was actually no effective treatment until the late 1940s.
Today, HIV Syphilis can be cured if an infected person rushes for the HIV tests & diagnosis after the person starts displaying initial symptoms of HIV. Research says that the rate of new cases of syphilis is doubled between 2005 and 2013 from 8,724 to 16,663. The most recent data of 2017 shows that the number of new Syphilis cases had risen to 101,567.
How to Diagnose Syphilis | Common Symptoms of Syphilis
There are four phases that define the complexity of syphilis. Symptoms one will start experiencing depend on the severity of the infection a person has. Though, it varies from person to person. The primary symptoms of HIV Syphilis may have flu-like symptoms or even no symptoms.
There are 3 phases of syphilis that defines the severity of the infection one is suffering from. These are:
Primary Syphilis- Primary Syphilis Symptoms generally appear 10 days to 3 months after one is exposed to syphilis. The infected person may show symptoms like the appearance of sores on the skin that heals in about 3 to 6 weeks. The lymph nodes near the groin may also enlarge.
Secondary Syphilis– 2 to 10 weeks after the first sore, one may develop the following major symptoms of HIV:
- Reddish-brown sores on the skin or mouth or genitals
- Fever & Headache
- Swollen glands
- Weight loss & Hair loss
- Fatigue or body pain
Latent Syphilis– If a person doesn’t undergo treatment for secondary syphilis, the infection may progress to the latent (hidden) phase. Generally, there are fewer chances of people going to this phase. This later phase can have symptoms like:
- paralysis
- gradual blindness
- numbness
- dementia
Syphilis Treatment | HIV Elisa Test
Testing and diagnosis are important part to remain healthy with HIV. With early diagnosis, early treatment is possible. Testing is the first step in accessing effective ways of managing the condition. It is the key to both treatment and prevention.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is the most common HIV test that uses a blood sample to detect HIV infection. The Patient’s blood sample is tested for antibodies. These antibody test checks for proteins the body makes if HIV is present. A positive (reactive) HIV ELISA test result needs further follow-up (confirmatory) test, such as the Western blot test.
Showing any signs of HIV? Get tested for your HIV routine tests from the most reliable online reservation platform- Yes4Me!
Yes4Me is an online reservation system that aims to provide the most convenient means to make reservations for HIV testing services while handling your data to ensure anonymity and privacy.
Book a reservation to get tested at www.yes4me.net
