Syphilis is a chronic, classic sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum, which can invade almost all organs of the body and produce various symptoms and signs. Although there are some cases of colorectal bleeding caused by syphilis, small intestinal bleeding caused by syphilis is still rare.
Gastric syphilis is a rare presentation observed in 1% of cases and usually develops in secondary syphilis [1]. The most common symptoms are epigastric pain, fullness, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss [2].
Syphilis – A bacterial infection, syphilis contracted through anal intercourse may result in rectal pain, spasms during bowel movements, and sores or growths that can be unsightly and uncomfortable.
Most people with untreated syphilis do not develop tertiary syphilis. However, when it does happen, it can affect many different organ systems. These include the heart and blood vessels, and the brain and nervous system. Tertiary syphilis is very serious and would occur 10–30 years after your infection began.
Late stage syphilis can be cured but the damage done to the body is permanent. Syphilis can invade the nervous system at any stage of infection, and causes a wide range of symptoms, including headache, altered behavior, difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, sensory deficits, and dementia.
Tertiary (late) stage
A person with syphilis may never have this stage of the illness. During this stage, syphilis may cause serious blood vessel and heart problems, mental disorders, blindness, nerve system problems, and even death. The symptoms of tertiary (late) syphilis depend on the complications that develop.
If syphilis is not treated, it can cause serious health problems, including neuralgic (brain and nerve) problems, eye problems, and even blindness. In addition, syphilis is linked to an increased risk of transmission of HIV infection.
The patient's diarrhea is secondary to Treponema pallidum infection (syphilis). Figure E and H represent treponema pallidum immunohistochemical stain, which highlights the presence of coiled spirochete bacterium (circles). The organisms were more abundant in the colon biopsy than the stomach biopsy.
STDs and Painful Bowel Movements
Rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea may cause painful bowel movements and discharge from the anus. Furthermore, herpes bumps can occur on or around the anus as well.
Gonorrhea can also affect the rectum leading to pain with bowel movements, rectal discharge, or constipation. Untreated gonorrhea in women can cause an inability to get pregnant, severe abdominal infections, and life-threatening complications during pregnancy for both mother and newborn.
STIs, including syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus, may contribute to abdominal distention.
Neurological Problems Syphilis can cause many nervous system problems, including sudden, searing pains. These spasms of pain may occur in various organs, often the stomach, and they may cause vomiting. Extreme, lightning-like pains in your rectum, bladder, and larynx may also occur.
Other symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, wart like lesions, condyloma lata, may develop in warm moist areas, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue or feeling very tired. The symptoms will go away with or without treatment.
Untreated syphilis infection can lead to irreversible neurological and cardiovascular complications. Depending on the stage, neurosyphilis can manifest as meningitis, stroke, cranial nerve palsies during early neurosyphilis or tabes dorsalis, dementia, and general paresis during late neurosyphilis.
At this stage, the infection can damage your heart, bones, nerves and organs. This stage can last up to 20 years. It's rare to pass syphilis to your sex partners during the latent stage. Without treatment, the infection progresses to the late stage.
Common risk factors for syphilis: Unprotected sexual activity involving contact with oral, genital mucosa 1 or anal especially in gbMSM. Sexual contact with a known case of syphilis. Sex with someone from a country/region with a high prevalence of syphilis.
Syphillis Worst Case Scenario: If left untreated, syphilis can cause soft, spongy balls of inflammation all over the body and bones, large sores on the skin and inside the body, internal bleeding, enlargement of the liver and/or spleen, deformations, loss of motor functions, seizures, dementia, aneurysm, and even death ...
Stage 3, Latent syphilis
Without treatment you will still have syphilis for 20 years or more even though you will not have any signs or symptoms. People with latent syphilis may sometimes have symptoms (flare-ups) like skin rash, fever, a sore throat, swollen glands or feeling weak and tired.
The autoimmune response in natural and experimental syphilis, apparently triggered as a secondary reaction to T. pallidum infection, is represented by the production of various antibodies to self-antigens.
Syphilis treatment depends on the stage that it is in. Stage 4 syphilis is treated with longer courses of antibiotics, such as penicillin or doxycycline. Organ damage or other complications of late-stage syphilis may not be reversible.
How long after getting syphilis do symptoms occur? Syphilis sores (AKA chancres) usually start to show up around 21 days (3 weeks) after you've been infected. However, they can show up anywhere from 10 days to 3 months after you've been infected.
The rash and growths are infectious. You might also feel ill, with a fever or headache, and swollen glands, and suffer weight loss. You can't see or feel any signs or symptoms of syphilis between the second and third stages. The disease becomes latent, which means hidden.
Secondary Stage syphilis symptoms take the form of a mild red rash. Other symptoms can include swollen lymph nodes, body aches, feelings of fatigue, weight loss, headaches, fevers, hair loss, or sore throats.