Recently, syphilis has become one of the most rapidly increasing sexually transmitted diseases in Japan. What do you think is the highest-ranked sexually transmitted disease? Is it AIDS? That's correct. Patients often think it's all about AIDS. However, in fact, the most prevalent one is syphilis. I had a test done, and it turned out I had syphilis. I have no symptoms, and I haven't had relations with my boyfriend recently. There are people who come in for testing, right? 

Hello, doctor. I saw the news that domestic syphilis cases are increasing. Do you know what syphilis is like? Yes, syphilis has recently become one of the most rapidly increasing sexually transmitted diseases in Japan. In fact, I think the scariest sexually transmitted disease is syphilis. The reason syphilis has become a focal point of interest is mainly due to Japan, not Korea. In the last ten years, the number of syphilis patients in Japan has increased almost 17 times, and the trend continues.

The same goes for diseases. In our country, the media and press are addressing this issue frequently to raise awareness based on the trends we observe. You mentioned that syphilis cases in Japan have increased by 17 times; what could be the reason for this? It is likely inferred that, according to research by the Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the recent rise is due to dating apps and social media, which allow for close sexual relationships with many unknown individuals. Is the infection rate as high as that of AIDS? What do you think is the highest-ranking sexually transmitted disease? Isn't it AIDS? That's correct. Patients tend to think of everything as AIDS, but that's not the case. AIDS has an infection rate of about 5%, whereas syphilis, which is currently gaining attention, has an infection rate of nearly 30% to 40%. This means that if you have sexual relations with ten people, three of them could become infected. What symptoms arise when one contracts syphilis?

The disease is caused by a bacterium, not a virus. The bacterium responsible for syphilis is known as Treponema pallidum. In fact, the symptoms are somewhat similar to those of herpes. There can be white ulcers around the genital area, the anal area, or the mouth, though it's rare. Herpes typically presents multiple lesions, whereas syphilis usually has one or at most two lesions. However, the lesions in syphilis are very round, with a crater-like appearance, and the surrounding area is red and feels very firm to the touch. 

An important distinguishing factor between the two is that herpes is extremely painful, while the lesions of syphilis, despite their alarming appearance, do not cause pain. Conversely, because herpes is so painful, it can often be more easily recognized.

If you come quickly, we can discover and start treatment. However, syphilis is not painful. There are usually one or two lesions around the genital area that spontaneously resolve in about two to five weeks. Therefore, patients often recover before coming to the hospital. But the important thing is that it does not mean it is cured. The syphilis bacteria dig deeper into the body. Do you know what syphilis bacteria look like? They resemble a wine cork, like the kind you use to open a bottle of wine. When you insert it, it is hard to pull out unless you twist it in the opposite direction. Syphilis works the same way; it burrows into the cells to evade the immune system. So even if the symptoms of syphilis disappear, the bacteria can still circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream, evading the immune system. Typically, this manifests as red spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, accompanied by rashes all over the body.

Fever can occur like flu symptoms, and lymph nodes can swell in various parts of the body, such as the neck, groin, or elsewhere. This is how syphilis can present itself. The frightening aspect of syphilis is that it can seem to resolve on its own, even during the secondary stage, where flu-like symptoms may appear, and there may be reddish spots on the palms and soles, leading to unnecessary worry as they disappear on their own. This causes people to avoid visiting the hospital and to let it pass. The progression to the tertiary stage can take months to decades, with the disease lying dormant for many years. At that point, it invades the body's organs, particularly the brain, heart, bones, and joints, as well as the aorta. Symptoms will then begin to manifest. When it involves the nervous system, particularly if it affects the blood vessels in the brain, the prognosis is very poor, and the mortality rate is quite high. You mentioned that the incubation period is long; yes, during this time, if one engages in sexual intercourse...

It is of course possible to transmit syphilis to a partner. However, as I mentioned earlier, if left untreated, syphilis does not resolve on its own during the incubation period and remains infectious in my body. Furthermore, it progresses deeper into the system. Syphilis bacteria enter through exposed blood vessels or mucous membranes. So, even if one has relations with a syphilis-infected person, if a woman does not have any wounds inside the vagina or around the vulva, or if the cervix is intact and the mucous membrane is well protected, transmission will not occur. Conversely, it can certainly be contracted during the incubation period. Therefore, it is crucial not only for one's own health but also for the health of sexual partners to quickly identify the infection and seek treatment at a hospital. This is the best way to prevent further transmission and reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others. Doctor, syphilis is transmitted solely through sexual contact.

Most people think of syphilis as a sexually transmitted infection. However, when a mother has syphilis and becomes pregnant, the transmission to the baby is referred to as vertical transmission, rather than a sexually transmitted infection. This can be extremely fatal for the baby; often, the baby is stillborn in the womb, or if born, may die shortly after birth. So, is there no way to prevent syphilis? In fact, the recommendation is to go to the hospital for treatment. The reason it can progress to stages one, two, and three is that stage one can sometimes resolve on its own, and the symptoms are not very painful. Stage two often presents merely as skin rashes on the palms and soles, which can be easily overlooked. Therefore, until it reaches the fatal stage three, patients often do not seek treatment unless they are very aware of their condition. However, these days,

There are actually many cases that come in earlier than before. For those individuals, treatment is very simple. They just need to come in and get an injection, and in some cases, they feel better after that. In fact, most cases are filtered out before they progress to stage three syphilis, which causes complications, except for very rare instances.

Is there a unique characteristic of syphilis? The reason it is named syphilis is because of its toxicity. Yes, that is true in terms of meaning, as it is a very toxic infection that can survive to stage three and damage the brain, spine, and heart. However, the origin of the name comes from the word mae, which refers to the plum blossom, and dok, which means toxic bacteria. The ulcers that appear in the genital area resemble the plum blossom, which is why it was named so.

Isn't the treatment method difficult? In fact, treatment is extremely simple. It is done on the external genitalia.

Syphilis can be treated effectively with just one injection of penicillin G, an antibiotic. However, I want to talk specifically about cases in Gwangju, where the numbers are actually quite high. There are individuals who get tested and find out they have syphilis, yet they show no symptoms and haven't had any recent sexual relations with their boyfriends. Some people come in for treatment and receive three penicillin injections at weekly intervals. In reality, getting three injections is not that difficult. 

I would also like to emphasize that as long as syphilis is treated properly, it will not remain dormant in the body. It is crucial to avoid sexual relations with unknown men through dating apps or social media. This advice applies to men as well. If you do engage in such activities, it is very important to use condoms safely. The rapid increase in encounters with unknown individuals is, in fact, a punishment bestowed upon us. Syphilis is a serious concern.

Please be cautious, and if you have any doubts, don't worry or be afraid to express them. In most cases, it's usually not the case. Come to the hospital for an examination, and even if it turns out to be true, make sure to receive appropriate treatment and advice. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment anytime; I check them daily. I will respond with all the knowledge I have to the best of my ability.

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