Is syphilis transmitted or is it not contagious? Surely many people know the answer to the question. Indeed, several thousand people die from such a disease every year. As you know, infection with this disease begins at the moment when pale treponema penetrates the human body . It should be noted that neither skin, nor mucous membranes become an obstacle for such a virus.
Syphilis: transmission of the disease
Currently, there are several main ways of infection with this disease. Let's consider them in more detail.
1. Sexual path
Almost everyone knows how syphilis is transmitted during unprotected intercourse . Indeed, today, in high school, and even in institutes, events are often held that talk in detail about sexually transmitted diseases and ways to avoid them. According to experts, during intercourse with a person with syphilis, the risk of infection is at least 50%. Moreover, this fact does not depend on what stage of the disease the partner has.
By the way, many believe that you can become infected with pale treponema only with "traditional" sexual intercourse. But this is far from the case. After all, the disease also passes during oral and anal contact.
2. The household way
Asked about how syphilis is transmitted, many people suggest that this disease can be picked up solely due to unprotected intercourse. However, it is rare, but there are times when the cause of infection is a regular kiss or a common object (for example, a cup, spoon, toothbrush, cigarette, lipstick, etc.), on which pale treponemas remain.
3. Blood transfusion route (through the blood)
How is syphilis transmitted, in addition to unprotected intercourse and public facilities? In some cases, such infection occurs during a blood transfusion. Also, pale treponema can pass into the body of a healthy person when using a syringe for injection, which was previously used by the patient. That is why drug addicts are at a particular risk of contracting the disease presented.
4. Professional way
There are quite a few cases where medical staff became infected with syphilis during their professional activities. After all, it is they who have to deal with materials such as saliva, semen, blood, vaginal discharge of the patient, etc. In addition, infection with syphilis can occur during surgery, when the surgeon accidentally injured his hand and the patient's blood got into it. By the way, such a disease is transmitted not only by living people, but also corpses. In this case, the infection can be picked up by a pathologist doing an autopsy.
5. The transplacental pathway
Thinking about how syphilis is transmitted, few can assume that such a disease passes from the mother to the unborn child. In most cases, the fetus affected by this disease dies in the womb or is born dead. If the baby miraculously survives, then the disease still makes itself felt and manifests itself in impaired functioning of almost all body systems.