Syphilis Is Making A Comeback

Syphilis, the sexually transmitted disease of Kings and Dictators of all times, is making a comeback. With over ten times more cases during this past decade – the millennium unleashed Syphilis I guess – the royal pain is still responsible for conditions such as madness, paralysis or even death at its final stage. While older generations were greatly aware of the pain and complications syphilis can bring, today’s syphilitic generations (men in their 30’s and 40’s) seem completely unaware of the harmful effects this condition can have on their bodies.

Back in 1494, Europe suffered what is now known as the first syphilis outbreak ever recorded in the continent. It was French troops at Naples the responsible for spreading the disease, supposedly caught from Spanish mercenaries at the orders of King Charles of France. From there on, syphilis was like the Perez Hilton of our time: everywhere and there to annoy. Of course Mr. Hilton does not make people’s flesh fall literally off their faces – although I’m sure some celebs must feel a pretty similar effect from some of the stuff this guy posts. When it first hit Europe, syphilis was covering patients’ bodies, making their flesh fall piece by piece and providing them with a very unattractive death within a month or two. Not really what you would call an appealing condition, if you are fond of flesh and hate looking like a zombie.

Because the current and potential syphilitic age group is likely made of divorced men and women in the process of getting back to the dating game, experts are worried about the implications of this returning sequel. Since initially this is a symptom-less disease, spreading it onto sexual partners can happen unwillingly and easily. Even experts are mesmerized at the rapid growing speed of this epidemic seems impossible to predict how far this epidemic will go. Earlier symptoms can include painless lumps, weight loss, being tired, a strange rash on hand palms and feet, fever and swollen glands.

Even with therapy available, syphilis is treatable in full at its first and second stage only. Mainly dealt with antibiotics, shots are administered intramuscularly or intravenously, according to the patient’s syphilis stage. Follows ups are quite common and considered good regular practice; these tests allow to determine the efficacy of the treatment applied. A sexually transmitted disease, concerns with new and stronger outbreaks among more sexually active and promiscuous generations attempts agains world-wide health. While syphilis alone causes its fair share of health complications and sequels, global concern has also been adressed because of high probability of transmiting and acquiring HIV through genital sores caused by syphilis. In a world and age in which men worry more about getting generic Viagra to get their engines working, more time should be invested in preventing what that aided action could lead to.