| ENCYCLOPEDIA INDEX |
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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Syphilis - tertiary |
| Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention |
| Alternative Names: |
| Late syphilis; Tertiary syphilis |
| Treatment: |
The treatment of syphilis is determined by the length of time the person has been infected. Primary, secondary, and latent syphilis of less than one year duration is treated as follows:
To treat syphilis during pregnancy: Penicillin is recommended as the only real drug of choice. Tetracycline cannot be used because of toxicity to the fetus, and erythromycin may fail to prevent congenital syphilis in the fetus. Penicillin-allergic individuals should be desensitized and then treated with penicillin.
These symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours. Individuals with primary or secondary syphilis should abstain from sex until they have been treated. Syphilis is extremely contagious in the primary and secondary stages. |
| Expectations (prognosis): |
| Late syphilis may be permanently disabling and may lead to death. |
| Complications: |
| Calling your health care provider: |
| Untreated syphilis can result in serious health problems. It is imperative that you inform your physician of the possibility of having had syphilis previously, even if it was many years ago. |
Late-stage syphilis |
Antibodies |
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