Syphilis: The Facts

This pamphlet provides information about the STD syphilis. It lists basic facts about the disease and discusses transmission, symptoms for men and women, testing, and treatment. The pamphlet explains that recent sex partners should be notified, as they would need to be tested for the disease and treated if infected. Syphilis can be cured with antibiotic treatment, but an individual can be reinfected. The pamphlet discusses the consequences of an individual with syphilis not receiving treatment, such as the disease progressing to the tertiary stage, which can lead to paralysis, numbness, blindness, and heart disease. The disease can also be passed from mother to baby during childbirth, and a person with syphilis has a higher risk of acquiring HIV during unprotected sex with an HIV-infected partner. The pamphlet tells how to lower the risk for syphilis and how to protect oneself and one’s partner.