Re: - syphilis

[Guest guest]

hi, how about syphilis? my rheumie is testing me for this. after i was raped, i

was never tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Ten years ago I was tested

for HIV, and thank God I didn't have that. I wasn't tested for anything else

though.

the man who raped me hadn't gotten around to raping me vaginally. he raped me

orally. I was forced to perform oral sex. he was threatening to rape me anally.

he was getting more and more physically violent when I finally escaped on my

third attempt.

i guess the cops didn't think i needed a doc or hospital. they didn't think i

needed to talk to someone at the rape crisis center. they didn't bother to take

pics of the bruises up and down my body.

the man who raped me was arrested and charged with 3 felonies but never

indicted. big surprise.

anyway, seems like there's something about how syphillis can imitate

Hashi's...something about the antibodies. i can't remember. i can't find that

link. in one of these articles, syphillis is called the " great imitator. "

one of the girls i work with now at the doctor's office recently worked for this

rheumatology practice where I saw my doc last month. i asked her if it was a

standard test and she said no. i guess my doctor wants to rule it out. during my

history i told her my health history. the rape came up. i guess when i was

describing symptoms like sores in my mouth that come and go, rashes that come

and go...well, i guess she wants to make sure i don't have it.

look at the third stage. look at neurosyphalillis. the links are at the bottom

of each article.

i have been too ashamed to mention this. i've tried not to let it bother me. but

it does. i guess i was just plain stupid not to get tested for it. i thought

about it after i was raped. but i forgot. how could that happen? i'm good about

pushing things away. It'll be 11 years this summer. How could i forget to get

tested for 11 years???

i'm so stupid. i'm afraid to post this but i guess i will. do you know how many

times i've tried to post this but hit the cancel button before sending?

anyway, i'm sure i don't have it...she probably just wants to be sure.

What Are the Symptoms?

There are three stages of syphilis. Call your doctor if you experience any of

the following symptoms:

In the first (primary) stage, which usually starts 10 days to twelve weeks

after exposure to the germ, painless sores (usually just one) called a chancre

appear on the genitals, rectum, anus, or mouth. The chancre lasts 3-6 weeks and

will heal on its own. Lymph glands near the chancre may be swollen as well. Left

untreated, the disease progresses to the second stage.

In the second (secondary) stage, which occurs one week to six months after

the appearance of the painless sores, a non-itchy red or reddish-brown spotty

rash may appear anywhere on the body (usually on the palms of the hands and

bottoms of the feet). You may have symptoms, such as headache, fever, fatigue,

sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph glands, patchy hair loss, loss of

appetite, weight loss, and pain in bones and joints -- all of which could be

symptoms of other diseases. Symptoms may then disappear, and the disease becomes

hidden. But the bacteria remain in the body.

In the third (late) stage, which can start anytime from one year to several

decades later, joints may be affected, resulting in arthritis. The infection

also can affect other specific parts of the body as well including the brain,

nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, bones and liver.

Cardiovascular syphilis develops in approximately 10% of patients, causing heart

disease.

Neurosyphilis can occur in the nerves and may cause paralysis, blindness,

senility, psychiatric problems, or loss of sensation in the legs. It develops in

about 8% of patients.

Without treatment, syphilis can be life-threatening. It is extremely important

to treat it before it does serious damage to your system and before you spread

the disease to others.

Call Your Doctor If:

You see the characteristic chancre sore of syphilis

You have been exposed to someone with the disease.

Medically reviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, WebMD, October 2001.

Sexual Conditions | The Basics | Symptoms | Detection & Treatment

http://www.hipusa.com/eTools/webmd/A-Z_Encyclopedia/syphilis%20symptoms.htm

Syphilis

WHAT IS SYPHILIS?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), once responsible for

devastating epidemics. It is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum.

The rate of primary and secondary syphilis in the United States declined by 89.2

percent from 1990 to 2000. The number of cases rose, however, from 5,979 in 2000

to 6,103 in 2001. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported

in November 2002 that this was the first increase since 1990.

Of increasing concern is the fact that syphilis increases by 3- to 5-fold the

risk of transmitting and acquiring HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus

that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

HOW IS SYPHILIS TRANSMITTED?

The syphilis bacterium is very fragile, and the infection is almost always

transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person. The bacterium spreads

from the initial ulcer (sore) of an infected person to the skin or mucous

membranes (linings) of the genital area, mouth, or anus of an uninfected sexual

partner. It also can pass through broken skin on other parts of the body.

In addition, a pregnant woman with syphilis can pass T. pallidum to her unborn

child, who may be born with serious mental and physical problems as a result of

this infection.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SYPHILIS?

The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection. The bacteria,

however, move throughout the body, damaging many organs over time. Medical

experts describe the course of the disease by dividing it into four

stages-primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary (late). An infected person who

has not been treated may infect others during the first two stages, which

usually last 1 to 2 years. In its late stages, untreated syphilis, although not

contagious, can cause serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness,

other neurologic problems, and death.

Primary Syphilis

The first symptom of primary syphilis is an ulcer called a chancre ( " shan-ker " ).

The chancre can appear within 10 days to 3 months after exposure, but it

generally appears within 2 to 6 weeks. Because the chancre may be painless and

may occur inside the body, the infected person might not notice it. It usually

is found on the part of the body exposed to the infected partner's ulcer, such

as the penis, vulva, or vagina. A chancre also can develop on the cervix,

tongue, lips, or other parts of the body. The chancre disappears within a few

weeks whether or not a person is treated. If not treated during the primary

stage, about one-third of people will go on to the chronic stages.

Secondary syphilis

A skin rash, with brown sores about the size of a penny, often marks this

chronic stage of syphilis. The rash appears anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks after the

chancre appears. While the rash may cover the whole body or appear only in a few

areas, it is almost always on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Because active bacteria are present in the sores, any physical contact—sexual or

nonsexual—with the broken skin of an infected person may spread the infection at

this stage. The rash usually heals within several weeks or months.

Other symptoms also may occur, such as mild fever, fatigue, headache, sore

throat, patchy hair loss, and swollen lymph glands throughout the body. These

symptoms may be very mild and, like the chancre of primary syphilis, will

disappear without treatment. The signs of secondary syphilis may come and go

over the next 1 to 2 years of the disease.

Latent syphilis

If untreated, syphilis may lapse into a latent stage during which the disease is

no longer contagious and no symptoms are present. Many people who are not

treated will suffer from no further signs and symptoms of the disease.

Tertiary syphilis

Approximately one-third of people who have had secondary syphilis go on to

develop the complications of late, or tertiary, syphilis, in which the bacteria

damage the heart, eyes, brain, nervous system, bones, joints, or almost any

other part of the body. This stage can last for years, or even for decades. Late

syphilis can result in mental illness, blindness, other neurologic problems,

heart disease, and death.

HOW IS SYPHILIS DIAGNOSED?

Syphilis is sometimes called " the great imitator " because its early symptoms are

similar to those of many other diseases. Sexually active people should consult a

doctor or other health care worker about any rash or sore in the genital area.

Those who have been treated for another STI, such as gonorrhea, should be tested

to be sure they do not also have syphilis.

There are three ways to diagnose syphilis.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms

Examining blood samples

Identifying syphilis bacteria under a microscope

The doctor usually uses all these approaches to diagnose syphilis and decide

upon the stage of infection.

Blood tests also provide evidence of infection, although they may give

false-negative results (not show signs of an infection despite its presence) for

up to 3 months after infection. False-positive tests (showing signs of an

infection when it is not present) also can occur. Therefore, two blood tests are

usually used. Interpretation of blood tests for syphilis can be difficult, and

repeated tests are sometimes necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

HOW IS SYPHILIS TREATED?

Unfortunately, the early symptoms of syphilis can be very mild, and many people

do not seek treatment when they first become infected.

Doctors usually treat patients with syphilis with penicillin, given by

injection. They use other antibiotics for patients allergic to penicillin. A

person usually can no longer transmit syphilis 24 hours after starting

treatment. Some people, however, do not respond to the usual doses of

penicillin. Therefore, it is important that people being treated for syphilis

have periodic blood tests to check that the infectious agent has been completely

destroyed.

People with neurosyphilis may need to be retested for up to 2 years after

treatment. In all stages of syphilis, proper treatment will cure the disease.

But in late syphilis, damage already done to body organs cannot be reversed.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF SYPHILIS IN PREGNANT WOMEN?

A pregnant woman with untreated, active syphilis is likely to pass the infection

to her unborn child. In addition, miscarriage may occur in as many as 25 to 50

percent of women acutely infected with syphilis during pregnancy. Between 40 to

70 percent of women with active syphilis will give birth to a syphilis-infected

infant.

Some infants with congenital syphilis may have symptoms at birth, but most

develop symptoms between 2 weeks and 3 months later. These symptoms may include

Skin ulcers

Rashes

Fever

Weakened or hoarse crying sounds

Swollen liver and spleen

Yellowish skin (jaundice)

Anemia (low red blood cell count)

Various deformities

People who care for infants with congenital syphilis must use special cautions

because the moist sores are infectious.

Rarely, the symptoms of syphilis go undetected in infants. As infected infants

become older children and teenagers, they may develop the symptoms of late-stage

syphilis, including damage to their bones, teeth, eyes, ears, and brains.

CAN SYPHILIS CAUSE OTHER COMPLICATIONS?

Syphilis bacteria frequently invade the nervous system during the early stages

of infection. Approximately 3 to 7 percent of persons with untreated syphilis

develop neurosyphilis, a sometimes serious disorder of the nervous system. In

some instances, the time from infection to developing neurosyphilis may be up to

20 years.

Some people with neurosyphilis never develop any symptoms. Others may have

headache, stiff neck, and fever that result from an inflammation of the lining

of the brain. Some people develop seizures. People whose blood vessels are

affected may develop symptoms of stroke with numbness, weakness, or visual

problems. Neurosyphilis may be more difficult to treat, and its course may be

different, in people with HIV infection or AIDS.

HOW CAN SYPHILIS BE PREVENTED?

The open sores of syphilis may be visible and infectious during the active

stages of infection. Any contact with these infectious sores and other infected

tissues and body fluids must be avoided to prevent spread of the disease. As

with many other STIs, using latex male condoms properly during sexual

intercourse may give some protection from the disease.

Screening and treatment of infected individuals, or secondary prevention, is one

of the few options for preventing the advanced stages of the disease. Testing

and treatment early in pregnancy are the best ways to prevent syphilis in

infants and should be a routine part of prenatal care.

WHAT RESEARCH IS GOING ON?

Developing better ways to diagnose and treat syphilis is an important research

goal of scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases (NIAID). New tests are being developed that may provide better ways to

diagnose syphilis and define the stage of infection.

In an effort to stem the spread of syphilis, scientists are conducting research

on the development of a vaccine. Molecular biologists are learning more about

the various surface components of the syphilis bacterium that stimulate the

immune system to respond to the invading organism. This knowledge will pave the

way for development of an effective vaccine that can ultimately prevent this

STD.

A high priority for researchers is developing a diagnostic test that does not

require a blood sample. Saliva and urine are being evaluated to see whether they

would work as well as blood. Researchers also are trying to develop other

diagnostic tests for detecting infection in babies.

Another high research priority is the development of a safe, effective

single-dose oral antibiotic therapy for syphilis. Many patients do not like

getting an injection for treatment, and about 10 percent of the general

population is allergic to penicillin.

The genome of the bacterium that causes syphilis has been sequenced through

NIAID-funded research. The DNA sequence represents an encyclopedia of

information about the bacterium. Clues as to how to diagnose, treat, and

vaccinate against syphilis have been identified and are fueling intensive

research efforts on this ancient but intractable disease.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

National STD and AIDS Hotline

1-800-227-8922 or 1-800-342-2437 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

National Institutes of Health

31 Center Drive, MSC 2520

Bethesda, MD 20892-2520

http://www.niaid.nih.gov

National Library of Medicine

MEDLINEplus

8600 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20894

1-800-338-7657

http://medlineplus.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30333

1-888-232-3228

http://www.cdc.gov

American Social Health Association

P.O. Box 13827

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-9940

www.ashastd.org

---------------------------------

NIAID is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is an

agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. NIAID supports basic and

applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious and immune-mediated

illnesses, including HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, illness

from potential agents of bioterrorism, tuberculosis, malaria, autoimmune

disorders, asthma and allergies.

News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on

the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.

Prepared by:

Office of Communications and Public Liaison

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

National Institutes of Health

Bethesda, MD 20892

---------------------------------

Department of Health

and Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH)

Bethesda, land 20892NIAID Home

NIAID Home | --->Publications Home | Search

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdsyph.htm

Last Updated November 21, 2003 (alt)

K a r e n P <karlynn17@...> wrote:

----Original Message Follows----

From: " Kemal And Sheila Kalajdzic " <kemalandsheila@...>

Reply-hypothyroidism

hypothyroidism

Subject: low fat diets/ " thyroid friendly diets "

Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 17:44:12 -0000

Sheila, thanks. However, this quote disturbs me:

" This same diet should control the risk

factors that can lead to brain damage and deterioration of

congition. "

Autoimmune disease causes brain damage? don't tell me that

Dr. Ridha Arem says in " The Thyroid Solution, "

" A thyroid-friendly diet should also be a diet friendly to the

immune system, one that is likely to prevent or temper an autoimmune

attack on the thyroid. This same diet should control the risk

factors that can lead to brain damage and deterioration of

congition.

_________________________________________________________________

Get reliable access on MSN 9 Dial-up. 3 months for the price of 1!

(Limited-time offer)

http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup & pgmarket=en-us & ST=1/go/onm00200361ave/dire\

ct/01/

[Guest guest]

*hugs* i know i was depserate for any answer and got an aids test too.. and

youd think this time nad age a dr wouldnt give a crap but they still made

me feel kinda bad about it... i wish we could get every test in the book

jsut to ease our minds so we dont go crazy thinking we ahve cancer or

soemthing but nooo dr's dont care about anxieties

low fat diets/ " thyroid friendly diets "

Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 17:44:12 -0000

Sheila, thanks. However, this quote disturbs me:

" This same diet should control the risk

factors that can lead to brain damage and deterioration of

congition. "

Autoimmune disease causes brain damage? don't tell me that

Dr. Ridha Arem says in " The Thyroid Solution, "

" A thyroid-friendly diet should also be a diet friendly to the

immune system, one that is likely to prevent or temper an autoimmune

attack on the thyroid. This same diet should control the risk

factors that can lead to brain damage and deterioration of

congition.

_________________________________________________________________

Get reliable access on MSN 9 Dial-up. 3 months for the price of 1!

(Limited-time offer)

http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup & pgmarket=en-us & ST=1/go/onm00200361ave/dire\

ct/01/

[Guest guest]

since this terrible thing happen to you have you had any antibotics??

if you did most likely you are ok now---think back and see---many of

today's antibotics will kill VD---tina

>

>

>

> ----Original Message Follows----

> From: " Kemal And Sheila Kalajdzic " <kemalandsheila@y...>

> Reply-hypothyroidism

> hypothyroidism

> Subject: low fat diets/ " thyroid friendly diets "

> Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 17:44:12 -0000

> Sheila, thanks. However, this quote disturbs me:

> " This same diet should control the risk

> factors that can lead to brain damage and deterioration of

> congition. "

>

> Autoimmune disease causes brain damage? don't tell me that

>

>

>

>

>

> Dr. Ridha Arem says in " The Thyroid Solution, "

>

> " A thyroid-friendly diet should also be a diet friendly to the

> immune system, one that is likely to prevent or temper an autoimmune

> attack on the thyroid. This same diet should control the risk

> factors that can lead to brain damage and deterioration of

> congition.

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Get reliable access on MSN 9 Dial-up. 3 months for the price of 1!

> (Limited-time offer)

> http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup & pgmarket=en-

us & ST=1/go/onm00200361ave/direct/01/

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

How is syphilis treated?

Syphilis usually is treated with penicillin, administered by

injection. Other antibiotics can be used for patients allergic to

penicillin. It is important that people being treated for syphilis

have periodic blood tests to ensure that they have been cured.

Persons with syphilis that has invaded the nervous system may need to

be retested for up to two years after treatment. In all stages of

syphilis, proper treatment will cure the disease but, in late

syphilis, damage already done to body organs cannot be reversed.