Here"s How We Treat Syphilis
Updated November 25, 2014.
The main of therapy for syphilis is antibiotic treatment, usually penicillin. Doxycycline may be used if you have a penicillin allergy.
Penicillin is given either intramuscularly or intravenously depending on the stage of syphilis. Follow up blood tests (RPR) are usually taken to track the efficacy of the treatment.
If the appropriate antibiotic treatment is given for syphilis in its primary and secondary stages it completely cures this disease.
In the latent and tertiary or final stage of syphilis treatment can still eradicate and stop further damage occurring. The damage that has already happen has to be treated but is often difficult or impossible to repair.
Syphilis is a reportable infection. It must be reported by health care facilities to public health authorities. This allows for assistance in identifying and treating potentially infected sexual partners.
Sex after Treatment for Syphilis
A person usually cannot transmit syphilis 24 hours after starting treatment. Some people, however, do not respond to the usual doses of penicillin so it is important that your health care provider advises individuals on when it is safe for them to commence unprotected sex.
