Health Wise-Stop Syphilis For Christmas

John Bart was an icon of the 19th Century. A decorated hero from the American Civil War he was admired by men and loved by the ladies. He had no vices but for one and was faithful to his wife and family. The vice that he did have was getting a little tipsy for Christmas. On this particular Christmas he went out to ease his Rum Tipsiness woke up with his pants down to his ankles in a bed he didn't know. He turned around uneasily and there beside him was an old woman wiith long, white hair and a big smile on her face, betraying a lone yellow tooth in the top of her head dangling like a wolf fang.

"Hello Darlin", she said like a toothless baby.

"Aye Matey what's your name?" asked Bart

"I'm syphilis for Christmas", replied the woman.

Bart pulled his legs to his chest, dropped his head into his hands and began wailing. He had fallen in with the notorious Syphilis for Christmas-a phantom, a vamp thought to be real or in the imagination of men, a genie in a bottle-the epitome of evil who ensnared men in his villiageand infected them with syphilis on Christmas. Bart became completely undone.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is spread mostly by sexual contact, but can be spread via contaminated blood and to a baby from its mother's womb. There are several stages of the disease and the symptoms depend on which stage the person is in. The following stages of Syphilis are:

1. Primary Syphilis-The first stage is from 10 days to 3 months. The main symptom is a Chancre sore at the site where the bacteria entered or someplace else. It can be in the mouth, genitals etc.. You may also have enlarged Lymph Nodes in the groin.

2. Secondary Syphilis-This stage may begin 2 weeks and beyond. It sometimes overlaps with the Primary Stage. Symptoms are skin rashes, fever, fatigue, soreness and aching, swollen Lymph Glands, sore throat, sores in the mouth and genital area.

3.Latent Stage-No signs or symptoms and can last for years

4. Tertiary Or Late Syphilis-If left untreated Syphilis may damage the Brain,nerves or any major organ or body system. The symptoms are unusual muscle movements,paralysis, numbness, stroke, dementia and other things. This takes years to develop

Syphilis can be diagnosed by blood test and in some cases spinal fluid. The treatment for the disease is Penicillin or an alternative antibiotic if the person is allergic to the medicine. To ensure a speedy recovery without any lingering damage to your body like Blindness and Heart Disease it is best to be treated early  during  the primary stage. Thus this will prevent any permanent damage to the body.

To prevent the disease practice Safer Sex via using condoms, maintaining mutual monogamous relationships, and avoiding excessive use of mind altering drugs as they impair judgement. There are other ways to prevent the disease. See the links in this hub for comprehensives.

Unfortunately Mr. Bart lived in a time when there was no Penicillin. Before the drug Syphilis was like the AIDS of that era. It ravaged generations and made them sick.; Struck fears into of the hearts of the well and unwell. Even some famous people were felled by this disease; there was no class distinction.

Nevertheles Syphilis continues to be one of the most commonly spread STD's and coupled with HIV infection it continues to be a threat to the community. A person infected with Syphilis is more likely to become infected withHIV if they are exposed; it may have something to do with the Chancre sores which develop.Hence since this is the age of medical marvals,we should endeavor to stop Syphilis For Christmas both the real and the imaginary.