{"id":3684,"date":"2018-04-27T06:45:46","date_gmt":"2018-04-27T06:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/?p=3684"},"modified":"2018-04-19T14:25:17","modified_gmt":"2018-04-19T14:25:17","slug":"silent-infection-the-importance-of-syphilis-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.better2know.co.uk\/blog\/silent-infection-the-importance-of-syphilis-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"Silent Infection: The Importance of Syphilis Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Syphilis is often referred to as a silent infection, with many people experiencing little or no symptoms in the initial stages. This can be particularly damaging as those with undetected Syphilis infections are more likely to transmit the STI to others without knowing.<\/p>\n

In a recent interview with the BBC<\/a>, one former Syphilis patient called for a broader public debate on an STI that is \u2018not discussed at all.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere were no symptoms,\u201d said the individual, using the name Gavin. \u201cYou don\u2019t know you\u2019ve got it and it just kind of lies dormant. Then you spread it round and you have no idea.\u201d Gavin\u2019s Syphilis infection had reached the secondary stage by the time it was detected, and he also discovered that he had HIV at the same time. He is now urging those who have had unprotected sex to get tested as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Gavin is now free from Syphilis following effective antibiotic treatment and his campaign comes in light of record Syphilis statistics. Last year, Public Health England<\/a> (PHE) revealed that there had been almost 6,000 cases of Syphilis. That is a 12% rise on the year before and \u2018the largest number of Syphilis diagnoses reported since 1949\u2019. The PHE report stated that these results are \u2018consistent with the increasing trend seen in recent years\u2019, and that \u2018since 2012, Syphilis diagnoses have risen by 97%\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dr Patrick French, a sexual health and HIV consultant at the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, spoke to the Nursing Times<\/a> about PHE\u2019s findings. He said that the increase in Syphilis cases was \u2018deeply disappointing\u2019 and emphasised the importance of \u2018sexual health promotion and easy access to high quality testing and treatment services\u2019. This makes getting tested for Syphilis even more pressing, especially when it comes to the safety of your health and that of any current or future partners. Early detection is key to preventing long-term damage to your system.<\/p>\n

Syphilis can be transmitted through sexual contact, including anal, vaginal and oral intercourse. The infection goes through three stages:<\/p>\n