Untreated syphilis can lead to heart failure, neurological problems, blindness, and make a person more susceptible to other STDs. It has four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Symptoms vary by stage, and late-stage syphilis can be fatal. Congenital syphilis can be passed from an infected pregnant mother to her baby, causing fatal consequences. Treatment with penicillin is effective in the earlier stages.
The consequences of untreated syphilis can be harmful. If left untreated, syphilis can damage the heart so severely that heart failure can occur. It can also cause neurological problems such as strokes and seizures and can lead to blindness. Research suggests that syphilis that remains untreated can make a person more susceptible to other STDs such as HIV. Also, pregnant women with syphilis can have the consequence of passing the infection to their unborn child.
Syphilis is a type of bacterial infection usually caused by the Treponema pallidum bacterium. In most cases, syphilis is spread when the infection enters the body, mostly through broken skin. The infection occurs in several stages: the primary, secondary, latent and tertiary stages. Untreated syphilis in the primary stage will generally progress to the second stage, which can progress to later stages when no treatment is received. Syphilis is mostly treated with penicillin or a closely related antibiotic and is quite treatable if treated in the earlier stages.
Symptoms of syphilis generally vary by stage. During the primary stage, painless sores may develop at the site of infection entry. Without treatment, the secondary stage can progress to the development of skin rashes, body aches, fever and fatigue. Symptoms of the first or second stage may disappear, however, untreated syphilis may still be present in the body and remain transmissible.
Latent syphilis is the stage where the infection does a sort of disappearing act. During this stage, the person may not have outward syphilis symptoms. Symptoms can lie dormant for long periods. Even if this happens, untreated syphilis can still progress to the more dangerous state, which is the tertiary stage.
The consequences of late stage syphilis can be very critical and even fatal. It can significantly damage the heart leading to valve disease, inflammation of the aorta and heart failure. It can also cause involuntary muscle movements, strokes, blindness and paralysis. Also, untreated syphilis can lead to other STDs. For example, HIV can be transmitted more easily through skin openings or sores that develop as a result of syphilis.
Syphilis that goes untreated can also damage the brain. Neurosyphilis is a type of infection that can affect the brain and spinal cord. It is generally caused by the same bacteria that cause syphilis. Neurosyphilis can cause dementia, affect walking, lead to confusion, and cause blindness. It can also cause weakness, tremors and seizures.
Another consequence of untreated syphilis is congenital syphilis. This type of syphilis is passed on from an infected pregnant mother to her baby. Babies born with syphilis may have skin sores just like some adults do in addition to swollen spleens or livers, rashes, and jaundice. The consequence of this disease in children can be fatal. Some mothers with syphilis have stillborn babies, and babies who survive untreated may have seizures, deafness, or a variety of physical deformities.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
