Prepared by: Bratislav Prokić, June 2023
Review: Dr. Milan Bjekić, dermatovenerologist,
City Institute for Skin and Venereal Diseases - Belgrade
All patients with syphilis should get tested for other sexually transmitted infections: HIV, hepatitis B and C and inform their partners to do the same.
Is syphilis curable?Is syphilis curable?
Syphilis is curable at any stage of the infection, with adequate therapy prescribed by an experienced doctor and in accordance with valid treatment guidelines. However, treatment may not repair the damage that had already occurred (vision loss, for instance).
Can I get syphilis again? se ponovo dobiti sifilis?
No resistance to syphilis develops after treatment, so anyone can get infected again.
How is syphilis treated?
The choice of drugs and the duration of therapy depend on the stage of the disease and whether the patient is allergic to antibiotics. The drugs of choice for syphilis are penicillin preparations in the form of intramuscular injections. In the case of penicillin allergy, antibiotics from the tetracycline group are used instead.
How do I know I’m cured?
Treatment is considered successful when, after 6 months of therapy, there is a four-fold drop in the titer of the VDRL test (from 1:64 to 1:16, for instance). According to the latest guidelines, the control VDRL test is done after 6 and 12 months of therapy; however, your doctor will assess how often you should do a control blood test.
When, after treatment for syphilis, can I have sex again?
If you have syphilis, refrain from sexual intercourse until two weeks after the end of the treatment; by that time the skin changes should have resolved as well. If your sexual partners are not tested and treated, you can get infected again. Do not have sex with any partner who has syphilis until one month has passed since the end of treatment.
Notify the partner/partners
Inform sexual partners that they should be tested for syphilis, even if they have no symptoms. If you have a problem notifying someone personally, Potent can do it for you, preserving your privacy.