Antibiotic Pill Can Treat Early Syphilis
Antibiotic Pill Can Treat Early Syphilis
Sept. 21, 2005 -- The early stages of syphilis can be treated effectively with a single pill instead of a shot, new research shows.
Scientists found that a single, 2-gram pill of the antibiotic azithromycin worked as well as one shot of penicillin at treating early syphilis.
The finding could help treat syphilis in developing countries with limited health care resources, write Gabriele Riedner, MD, PhD, and colleagues in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Riedner works at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
However, an editorial in the journal voices caution about changing syphilis treatment.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. Pregnant women can also pass syphilis to their fetus, which can be fatal for the baby.
Syphilis has four stages with these symptoms:
Syphilis Rare in the U.S.
U.S. syphilis rates in 2000 were the lowest since the government started keeping track in 1941.
However, syphilis rates were up slightly in 2002 and 2003. Those increases were only seen among men, reports the CDC.
In 2003, the CDC got reports of 7,177 cases of primary and secondary syphilis. That's up 4.6% from 2002, according to the CDC.
Scientists found that a single, 2-gram pill of the antibiotic azithromycin worked as well as one shot of penicillin at treating early syphilis.
The finding could help treat syphilis in developing countries with limited health care resources, write Gabriele Riedner, MD, PhD, and colleagues in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Riedner works at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
However, an editorial in the journal voices caution about changing syphilis treatment.
About Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. Pregnant women can also pass syphilis to their fetus, which can be fatal for the baby.
Syphilis has four stages with these symptoms:
- Primary stage: Sores (called chancres) appear on the part of the body exposed to the infected partner's ulcer; it may be inside the body and not noticed. It disappears whether or not a person gets treated.
- Secondary stage: Rash appears, which also will disappear without treatment. Yet the sores contain active bacteria; broken skin of an infected person may spread the infection by sexual or nonsexual contact. Other symptoms may include swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue.
- Latent stage: Syphilis lies low. Symptoms disappear and the disease isn't contagious in this stage.
- Late stage: Bacteria damage the body on the inside. Virtually any part of the body may be affected, including the brain, heart, eyes, nerves, joints, and bones. This stage may last for years or even decades and can lead to mental illness, blindness, heart disease, neurological problems, and death.
Syphilis Rare in the U.S.
U.S. syphilis rates in 2000 were the lowest since the government started keeping track in 1941.
However, syphilis rates were up slightly in 2002 and 2003. Those increases were only seen among men, reports the CDC.
In 2003, the CDC got reports of 7,177 cases of primary and secondary syphilis. That's up 4.6% from 2002, according to the CDC.
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