GRAPHIC IMAGES: Malignant Syphilis Photos Powerfully Demonstrate The Impact It Has On The Body
GRAPHIC IMAGES: Photos Show Serious Effect Of Syphilis On The Body
Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK
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Syphilis may be an infection we associate with Victorian times, but it's still very much prevalent in the 21st century.
Graphic images have been released by the Lancet Journal to show the serious effects some strains of syphilis can have on the human body.
A 38-year-old man was treated in hospital back in April after multiple skin ulcers cropped up across his body including his face, torso, arms and legs.
To begin with, the ulcers were painless lumps across his body, but within two weeks they had begun to ooze pus and were very painful.
Initially the man was diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum (a rare skin condition that causes painful ulcers) and treated at his local hospital. However the ulcers across his body soon worsened and the patient developed a fever.
Syphilis comes in three stages. Stage one begins as a painless yet highly infectious sore on the genitals, or sometimes around the mouth.
"If somebody else comes into close contact with the sore, typically during sexual contact, they can also become infected. The sore lasts two to six weeks before disappearing," reads the NHS Choices Website.
The disease then progresses to stage two where a skin rash and sore throat develops.
Roughly one-third of people who are not treated for syphilis will develop stage three (or tertiary) syphilis, which can cause serious damage to the body.
Syphilis, if diagnosed early, can usually be treated with antibiotics.
However, if it is not treated, syphilis can progress to a more dangerous form of the disease and cause serious conditions such as stroke, paralysis, blindness, and even death.
According to Dr Helen Webberley, the dedicated GP for Oxford Online Pharmacy, malignant syphilis is a rare form of destructive secondary syphilis.
"Primary syphilis is actually on the rise in the UK and we are seeing more and more cases in our GUM clinics and in General Practice," she adds.
"Primary syphilis can go unnoticed but if left untreated the infection can take hold and it can develop into secondary syphilis which causes very nasty symptoms, such as in this case. Untreated syphilis can also be a problem much later in life as it can develop into tertiary syphilis which causes nerve and brain damage."
Dr Webberley adds that attitudes towards safe sex nowadays are "extremely lax" and "many people have multiple partners without taking the necessary basic precautions". This includes wearing a condom for oral sex as well as vaginal and anal sex.
"Risk-taking behaviour also tends to worsen in holiday situations and we often see a spike in those attending clinic with symptoms after key holiday periods," she explains.
"So the key message is take precautions. Secondly, if you have exposed yourself to risk, get tested either in a sexual health clinic, at your surgery and even through your online pharmacy which is a great option if anonymity is a factor - though, if you do test positive, treatment should be sought in clinic.
"Be safe and get tested - most STIs are asymptomatic in the early stages so you don't know who has got one."
The man, who claimed he had sex with four women over the past year, was treated for malignant syphilis with weekly penicillin injections for three weeks, according to the Lancet Journal.
After six months, the ulcers had healed however the man's body was left covered in scars - a poignant reminder of why contraception is so important.
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The ulcers cleared, but left behind scars across the man's body
Most Common STIs And Symptoms
Chlamydia(01 of10)
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The most common STI in the UK for a multitude of different of reasons. Chlamydia is unfortunately practically symptomless, meaning you could have it for years and not know. It is also one of the easiest diseases to spread amongst sexual partners, so you might not know you’re spreading it all over town.On occasion Chlamydia can cause a burning sensation when passing urine in both men and women but do not rely on this as a sign. The infection is easily treatable, so it’s best to get yourself checked as a local health clinic as soon as possible. (credit:Jason Hetherington via Getty Images)
Genital Warts(02 of10)
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As the name suggests, this sexually transmitted disease appears as small fleshy growths and bumps on or around your genital or anal area. The warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) of which some types can lead to cervical cancer. Don’t worry; genital warts are not this strain. Genital warts cannot be fully cured and the disease can lay dormant, showing itself a year, two years or even longer after you initially contract it. The unsightly warts can be banished with the use of creams and cryotherapy (they freeze them off). (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Genital Herpes(03 of10)
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Sadly another infection without a cure and with a massive stigma. Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which is exactly the same virus that causes cold sores. People usually develop symptoms of HSV a few days after coming into contact with the virus. This is when small painful blisters develop which can cause itching, tingling or make it painful to urinate. Once you’ve been infected the virus remains dormant most of the time. If you have herpes be careful, the infection is much more likely to spread when you are having an outbreak so refrain from intercourse when sores and blisters are apparent. (credit:IPGGutenbergUKLtd via Getty Images)
Gonorrhoea(04 of10)
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Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI easily passed on during sex. Roughly half of women and 10% of men don’t experience symptoms and much like Chlamydia, are often unaware they are infected. If you do experience symptoms, in women they usually present themselves as a burning sensation when urinating, vaginal discharge (which is often a watery yellow or green substance), pain in the lower abdomen during sex or bleeding after sex. Men should look out for a burning sensation when urinating, as well as discharge, and should watch out for tenderness in the testicles. Gonorrhoea can also infect your rectum, throat and even eyes. Luckily this infection is easily rid of through a course of antibiotics but should not be left untreated as it can lead to serious health problems. (credit:dolgachov via Getty Images)
Trichomoniasis(05 of10)
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Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by a small parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Again it can easily be passed on through sex and unfortunately it’s another infection that can be hard to notice from symptoms alone. Women can get frothy yellow or green discharge and men can also experience the same. Luckily this infection is treatable with a course of antibiotics. (credit:luchschen via Getty Images)
HIV (06 of10)
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HIV is mostly passed on through unprotected sex but it can also be transmitted by coming into contact with infected blood, the most common example of this is by sharing needles to inject drugs. The virus itself attacks and weakens the immune system, causing your body to struggle to fight infections and diseases. There is still unfortunately no cure for HIV but there are treatments that allow most people to live a long and healthy life. AIDS is the final stage of the HIV infection, where your body can no longer try to fight life threatening infections. A simple blood test is used to test for infection. (credit:Adam Petto via Getty Images)
Syphilis(07 of10)
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Syphilis is a bacterial infection that causes painless but very infectious sores on your genitals or around the mouth in its early stage. The sore usually lasts up to 6 weeks before disappearing. Symptoms that follow this can come in the form of rashes, flu like illness or patchy hair loss. The late stage of syphilis normally occurs many years after you initially contract the infection and can cause very serious conditions such as heart problems, blindness and even paralysis. Like HIV, a simple blood test can determine whether you have the condition or not and can be treated with antibiotics. (credit:Tetra Images via Getty Images)
Pubic Lice(08 of10)
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Pubic lice, or crabs as they are more commonly known, are easily passed to others through close genital contact. Much like head lice, they are usually found in hair, be this in your pubic hair or even in your underarm hair. The lice crawl from hair to hair but don’t jump or fly. They can be treated successfully with special creams or shampoos available over counter so you don’t need to go get the razor out. (credit:Dimitri Otis via Getty Images)
Hepatitis C(09 of10)
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Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to your liver. It is most commonly transmitted through the sharing of needles when injecting drugs or steroids, however it can also be spread during unprotected sex. The risk of the disease spread this way is increased if there are genital sores or ulcers from another sexually transmitted infection or if either person has contracted HIV. Hepatitis C is often treated successfully by taking a combination of medicines for several months. (credit:Wavebreakmedia Ltd via Getty Images)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease(10 of10)
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is caused by an infection developed in the female upper genital tract. In the majority of cases, the condition is caused by a bacterial infection spread from the vagina all the way into the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Although not technically an STI itself, it can be a bi-product of untreated STIS. It is estimated that one in 10 women with untreated Chlamydia will develop PID within a year. The disease can be treated easily and effectively with antibiotics if it’s caught early enough, however if the condition is left untreated it can lead to more serious complications. (credit:Piotr Marcinski via Getty Images)