I believe that everyone has heard of syphilis a lot in their lives, and they also know that it is contagious to a certain extent. Therefore, many people are afraid that they will get such a disease. Therefore, syphilis has a great impact on the patient's body and psychology. Impact, for this reason we all must go to a regular hospital for treatment in time when syphilis occurs. So, what is the transmission route of syphilis? What are the dangers of syphilis? How to prevent syphilis?

What are the ways syphilis is transmitted?

1. Sexual contact transmission

Accounting for 95% of the total communication methods. Mainly through sex or other sexual behaviors, such as homosexuality, kissing, etc. Treponema pallidum is present in large quantities on the skin and mucous membrane surfaces of the genitals and other parts of patients with primary and secondary syphilis, and is also present in body fluids such as saliva, semen, breast milk, urine and blood. People with untreated syphilis are most contagious during stages 1 and 2 of infection. As the disease period prolongs, the contagiousness becomes less and less, and after 4 years, it is no longer contagious through sexual contact.

2. Birth canal transmission

When a newborn is born, a newborn who has a head or shoulder injury or comes into contact with the mother's genitals can be infected by spirochetes in the mother's vagina, causing acquired syphilis in the baby.

3. Placental transmission

Untreated pregnant women with syphilis can transmit the disease to their fetuses across the placenta. Among patients with stage 1 or 2 disease, the most spirochetes were found in the blood. If left untreated, the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth is about 50%, the risk of fetal transmission of the virus is about 50%, and the risk of placental transmission gradually drops to less than 50% one year after infection with syphilis. Although the disease is not contagious through sexual contact for more than 4 years, it can still be passed to the fetus. The longer the disease, the less contagious it is.

4. Blood-borne infection

If the blood donor has latent syphilis, the blood he or she provides may contain Treponema pallidum. Once the blood is transfused into the body of the recipient, infection can occur. Such patients will not develop symptoms of primary syphilis, but will directly develop symptoms of secondary syphilis. Therefore, it is very important to conduct syphilis serological screening tests on blood donors.

What are the dangers of syphilis?

1. The harm of syphilis causes the virus in syphilis to invade the central nervous system. Can cause tuberculosis, paralytic dementia, optic atrophy, etc.

2. Treponema pallidum can damage the skeletal system. It causes tissue destruction, loss of function, disability or death. This is the most serious form of syphilis.

3. The spirochetes in syphilis harm the cardiovascular system. The harm of syphilis can lead to aortitis, aortic valve insufficiency, aortic aneurysm, etc. This is also one of the harmful manifestations of syphilis.

4. Treponema pallidum structurally mutates and develops drug resistance. Every pathogenic microorganism has mutating properties, and spirochetes are no exception. Mutated Treponema pallidum is like an upgraded computer operating system, with more complete functions and stronger toxicity, making it harder to cure syphilis.

5 habits to develop to prevent syphilis

1. Develop good hygiene habits

First of all, male friends must develop good hygiene habits to prevent syphilis infection. Do not bathe in unsanitary public baths, and do not share hand towels, razors, tableware, etc., as the utensils may be infected with syphilis due to contact with the patient's contaminated clothing.

2. Carry out necessary syphilis examination before marriage

For unmarried men and women, it is also necessary to conduct necessary syphilis tests before marriage and pregnancy tests for women after marriage. Pregnant women infected with syphilis can transmit syphilis to the fetus in their abdomen through the placenta, and may also infect newborns through the birth canal. Therefore, premarital examination and pregnancy examination are important means to prevent the birth of children with syphilis.

3. Avoid unclean sexual intercourse

A very important point for male friends to prevent syphilis is to resolutely eliminate the occurrence of unclean sexual intercourse.

4. Syphilis patients should separate daily utensils from their families

If a male friend has been infected with syphilis, he must undergo consistent treatment and be careful to separate his daily utensils from his family and friends to avoid infecting his family members and causing the "area" of syphilis to expand.

5. Male friends should use condoms

During sexual intercourse, male friends should use condoms to effectively prevent syphilis infection. Sexual contact with existing patients (including general sexual intercourse, anal intercourse, oral intercourse, kissing, etc.) has been confirmed to be the main route of syphilis transmission. Therefore, it is recommended to have a single sex partner, not to have sex with an infected person, to have protected sex, and to promote the use of condoms, which has been proven to be the most effective way to prevent STDs.