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Syphilis - Primary
Alternate Names : Primary Syphilis
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Primary Syphilis Treatment
Syphilis can be treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin G benzathine, doxycycline (for patients who are allergic to penicillin), or tetracycline (for patients who are allergic to penicillin). Duration of treatment depends on the extent of the syphilis and factors, such as underlying health of the patient.
Syphilis during pregnancy: Penicillin is recommended as the only real drug of choice. Tetracycline cannot be used because of toxicity to the fetus, and erythromycin may fail to prevent congenital syphilis in the fetus. Penicillin-allergic individuals should ideally be desensitized, then treated with penicillin.
Several hours following the treatment of early stages of syphilis, individuals may undergo a reaction called Jarish-Herxheimer reaction. Symptoms of this reaction include:
These symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours.
Follow-up blood tests must be done at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months to ensure the infection has been eliminated. There must be abstinence from sexual conduct until two follow-up tests have indicated that the infection has been cured. The sexual partner should also be treated. Syphilis is extremely contagious in the primary and secondary stages.
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• Definition
• Primary Syphilis Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Primary Syphilis Symptoms & Signs
• Primary Syphilis Prevention
• Primary Syphilis Diagnosis & Tests
• Primary Syphilis Treatment
• Primary Syphilis Prognosis
• Primary Syphilis Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Meningitis
• Neurosyphilis
• Syphilis
• Syphilis - Secondary
• Syphilis - Tertiary
Tests & Exams
• FTA-ABS
• RPR
• VDRL
Other Topics
• Benign
• Cardiovascular
• Cervix
• Erosion
• Fever
• Genital Sores - Female
• Genital Sores - Male
• Headache
• Incidence
• Joint Pain
• Malaise
• Mouth Sores
• Muscle Aches
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Penis
• Rashes
• Reportable Diseases
• Swollen Glands
• Ulcers
Review Date : 2/25/2002
Reviewed By : Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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