Syphilis is a serious sexually transmitted disease that, when properly treated, has a 98% chance of cure. A cure for syphilis can be achieved in just 1 or 2 weeks of treatment, but when it is not treated or not treated correctly, it can last for 2 years or more.
The most common reason for abandoning treatment is thinking that the disease has already been overcome, as there are no longer any apparent symptoms. However, the bacteria can spread silently throughout the body, without signs or symptoms being noticed, and can be transmitted to another person.
Therefore, it is important that all doctor’s instructions related to the treatment of syphilis are followed to ensure that the bacteria has been properly eliminated and the person is cured.
Does syphilis have a spontaneous cure?
Syphilis does not cure itself and there is no spontaneous cure for this disease. However, after the wound appears, even without treatment, it is possible for the skin to heal completely, but this does not mean that there has been a natural cure for syphilis, but rather a progression of the disease.
When a person has no symptoms, what may be happening is that the bacteria is now spreading silently throughout the body. If treatment is not carried out, the disease may appear in a secondary form, leading to the appearance of spots on the skin. Without treatment, these symptoms may disappear on their own and the bacteria can then affect organs and systems, giving rise to tertiary syphilis.
Therefore, the disappearance of wounds and spots on the skin does not indicate a cure for syphilis, but rather the evolution of the disease, and the only way to eliminate these bacteria from the body is through the use of antibiotics.
Know how to recognize the symptoms of each stage of syphilis.
How the treatment is carried out
Generally, the treatment to cure syphilis is done with the use of weekly injections of Penicillin, such as Benzetacil, for example. The concentration of penicillin, the number of doses and the days on which they should be taken vary according to how long the disease has been present in the individual.
Tests that prove the cure for syphilis
The tests that test for a cure for syphilis are the VDRL blood test and the cerebrospinal fluid test.
Syphilis is cured when VDRL and cerebrospinal fluid tests are considered normal, between 6 and 12 months after starting treatment. The tests are considered normal when there is a decrease of 4 titers in the amount of antibodies circulating in the blood, for example:
- VDRL drops from 1/64 to 1/16;
- VDRL drops from 1/32 to 1/8;
- VDRL drops from 1/128 to 1/32.
This means that it is not necessary for VDRL values to be equal to zero to say that a cure for syphilis has been achieved.
After achieving a cure, the person may be infected again if they come into contact with the bacteria that cause the disease, which is why it is recommended to use a condom in all sexual relations.
Watch the following video and learn more about the transmission, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of syphilis:
