Final answer:
Syphilis is treated with parenteral penicillin G, with options for patients allergic to penicillin. Early detection through blood tests is crucial, especially in pregnant women to prevent transmission to the fetus. Without treatment, syphilis progresses through various stages and can cause serious health complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recommended treatment for syphilis is parenteral penicillin G, specifically the long-acting benzathine penicillin, although the choice of antibiotic may vary depending on the stage of the disease. A single intramuscular injection can cure primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis. Those with late latent or tertiary syphilis may require three doses, administered at weekly intervals. For individuals allergic to penicillin, alternatives such as tetracycline and doxycycline are available, but these are less effective and necessitate post-treatment retesting to confirm cure. Note that antibiotics kill the Treponema pallidum bacteria and stop disease progression but cannot reverse damage already done.
Diagnosis is usually made through blood tests detecting antibodies against the bacterium. Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis as early as the first prenatal visit, with additional tests in the third trimester and at delivery for those at high risk. If they test positive, penicillin treatment is administered, displaying a 98 percent success rate at preventing transmission to the fetus. Penicillin allergy requires desensitization before treatment can be given to such patients.
Untreated, syphilis goes through stages: primary syphilis presents as a painless lesion called a hard chancre, highly infectious and sometimes unnoticed due to location and symptom severity. Advanced syphilis can lead to serious damage to organs like the heart and brain, potentially causing death. Syphilis is mainly transmitted through direct contact with syphilitic sores during sexual activities, and treated individuals remain susceptible to reinfection.