STD dangers.

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD), is caused by a type of bacteria and is spread through direct contact with a syphilis sore (also called a chancre, pronounced KANG-kur) during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. These sores usually appear on the external genitals (in the vagina, on the

penis, and in the rectal area) or on the lips and in the mouth. The sores are typically firm, round, small, and painless. Treatment with antibiotics can cure syphilis, especially in the early stages. Though the sores may heal without treatment, the syphilis infection remains in your body and will get worse. Other symptoms include a skin rash (rough, red or reddish-brown spots) on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet, fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue. In the late stages of syphilis, the brain, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints may be damaged, and this damage could be fatal.

Having syphilis sores increases your chances of becoming infected with HIV. In addition, people already infected with HIV need to be especially careful about not getting syphilis (or other STDs). A study published in the journal AIDS (18, p. 2075, 2004) looked at the medical records of 52 HIV+ men with syphilis who had viral loads and T cell counts measured before, during, and after being diagnosed and treated for syphilis. They found that viral load was highest and T cell counts were lowest while the men were infected with syphilis and before they were treated. In this study, syphilis was associated with a large increase in HIV viral load and a decrease in T cell count. These findings emphasize the importance of prevention and prompt treatment of syphilis in HIV+ people.

BOTTOM LINE: HIV+ people should practice safer sex (even with other positives) for a number of reasons: not spreading the disease, not passing or receiving drug-resistant virus, and not complicating their disease (whether from syphilis, hepatitis B, or other STDs). Some aspects of HIV infection cannot be controlled, while others can. Be smart about risks and stay as healthy as possible, even with HIV.