Five bizarre warning signs of syphilis revealed amid spike in cases and outbreak in Houston
An outbreak of syphilis has raised the alarm in Houston.
Cases of the STI among women have increased by 128 percent since 2019, according to official figures.
Health chiefs are now doing everything they can to stop the spread of the bug, which could be potentially life-threatening if left untreated. Pregnant women can also pass it on to their babies and have a higher risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
But the symptoms of the bacterial infection, which can lurk in the body for decades, are often mild and difficult to spot.
Here, MailOnline reveals five warning signs of the disease.
Syphilis is often known as “the great pretender” because the disease has overlapping symptoms with several other STDs, which can lead health professionals to completely overlook the symptoms. Here are five warning signs of the disease to watch out for
Multiple ulcers
Syphilis – usually spread through sex – is caused by a bacteria called Treponema pallidum.
The earliest warning sign is a concave sore, known as a chance, in the mouth or genitals.
Many infected people develop only one ulcer, which is usually firm and painless.
Chancres usually occur three weeks after exposure to the bacteria, where the bacteria has entered the body.
Jeffrey Klausner, former director of STD Prevention and Control Services at the San Francisco Department of Health, shared The Washington Post that “people may not be very aware” of the telltale syphilis symptom.
Chancres can last for six weeks and may go away without treatment, but that doesn’t mean you’re clear.
Rash on the palms
If syphilis is left untreated, the disease can enter a second stage of infection.
Symptoms of secondary syphilis begin a few weeks after the ulcer disappears. This usually consists of a rash.
Syphilis can lead to a rash, which often appears on the palms of the hands, but can persist anywhere on the body, including the soles of the feet. It usually does not itch and may go away without treatment
NHS describes the rash as ‘a non-itchy rash that appears anywhere on the body, but usually on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet’.
The rash can be vague and hard to notice, and can even resemble rashes caused by other diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema, meaning even doctors can miss the symptoms.
Klausner said doctors can sometimes misdiagnose syphilis as a viral infection, which he says is because, “There are fewer and fewer syphilis experts.”
Swollen glands
In the primary stage of infection, syphilis can also lead to “enlarged lymph nodes in the area of the ulcer,” according to Penn Medicine.
The swollen glands may persist in the second stage while the bacteria continues to grow.
Swollen glands are a sign that the body is fighting an infection. They usually get better on their own within two weeks, the NHS says.
Common areas where you may notice swollen lymph nodes are your neck, under your chin, in your armpits, and in your groin.
Swollen glands can persist in the primary and secondary stages of infection as the bacteria continue to grow
Hair loss
Although a less common symptom of syphilis, the disease can lead to hair loss.
The NHS says it can look like ‘patchy hair loss on the head, beard and eyebrows’.
According to a 2013 study published in the National Institutes of Health, the frequency of hair loss in secondary syphilis only ranges from 2.9 to 7 percent.
This most common type of hair loss is a ‘moth-eaten’ pattern and is a form of non-scarring alopecia that can affect other areas of the scalp.
However, the hair loss is not permanent and, according to the study, “The alopecia usually resolves within three months of appropriate treatment for syphilis.”
Hair loss is a less common symptom of syphilis and is usually not a permanent side effect = hair may return with treatment
Flu-like symptoms
Another warning sign to watch out for is flu-like symptoms, which can persist into the second stage of infection.
While these symptoms usually resolve without treatment, an infected person who is never treated for syphilis may progress to a third stage of the disease.
The “latent stage” — when there are no visible signs or symptoms — can last for years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Tertiary syphilis can then occur up to 30 years after a person becomes infected.
It can be fatal and affect multiple organ systems, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints.
In the second stage of infection, flu-like symptoms may persist, while this may resolve without treatment if a person is never treated, they may progress to a third stage of infection and experience life-altering side effects
What are the other signs of syphilis?
At any stage of infection, the disease can invade the nervous system (neurosyphilis), the visual system (ocular syphilis), and the auditory and/or vestibular system (ostosyphilis).
According to the CDCP, signs of neurosyphilis include:
- severe headache;
- difficulty with muscle movements;
- muscle weakness or paralysis (unable to move certain parts of the body);
- numbness; And
- changes in mental status (difficulty focusing, confusion, personality change) and/or dementia (problems with memory, thinking and/or making decisions).
Signs of ocular syphilis may include:
- eye pain or redness;
- floating spots in the field of vision (“floaters”);
- sensitivity to light; And
- changes in vision (blurred vision or even blindness).
Signs and symptoms of ostosyphilis may include:
- hearing loss;
- ringing, buzzing, roaring, or hissing in the ears (“tinnitus”);
- balance problems; And
- dizziness or vertigo.