Questions about syphilis or other STDs? Contact: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

v Your Tribal Clinic v National STD Hotline - 1-800-227-8922 v National Indian AIDS Line - 1-800-283-2437 Project Red Talon v Hepatitis Information - 1-800-223-0179 The activities of Project Red Talon are funded v National Herpes Hotline - 1-919-361-8488 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This project is designed v CDC National AIDS Hotline - 1-800-342-AIDS to provide tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Syphilis v Alcohol, Drug & Pregnancy Hotline - Washington with education, training, and 1-800-638-BABY technical assistance for the prevention and v Boystown National Youth Hotline - treatment of STDs. -800-448-3000 Award Number: U83/CCU024369-01 v National Gay & Lesbian Youth Hotline - 1-800-676-TEEN

Quick Quiz! For more information contact: (answers below) Stephanie Craig Rushing, MPH 1. Syphilis is caused by a: Project Director—Project Red Talon a. Bacteria b. Virus [email protected] c. Protozoa d. Fungus Lisa Griggs 2. You can get syphilis by direct contact Administrative Assistant—Project Red Talon with a ______. [email protected] 3. True or False: Syphilis is curable. 4. True or False: When a symptom (like a chancre or skin rash) heals without Northwest Portland Area PROJECT RED TALON treatment, this means you’re getting Indian Health Board “Respecting Our Bodies and Relationships” better. 5. What is the only foolproof way to 527 SW Hall, Suite 300 Portland, OR 97201 prevent syphilis? Phone: (503) 228-4185 6. True or False: Condoms protect you Toll Free: (887) 955-5519

from syphilis. Fax: (503) 228-8182

chancre is covered by the condom. condom. the by covered is chancre Northwest Portland Area 6: T, if used consistently and correctly, and only if every every if only and correctly, and consistently used if T, 6: www.npaihb.org

Indian Health Board Answers: 1: A 2: Chancre 3: T 4: F 5: Abstinence Abstinence 5: F 4: T 3: Chancre 2: A 1: Answers: What Is Syphilis? Stages of Syphilis Diagnosis Syphilis is an STD caused Primary Stage - In this stage, there is usually Laboratory tests can be preformed on by the bacteria Treponema a single chancre (although there can be more material taken from a chancre to detect the pallidum, which can enter than one). Chancres usually show up 10-90 bacteria. A blood test can be used to detect the body through the skin, days after you get infected. Left untreated, antibodies (antibodies stay in the blood for mouth, or anus. the chancre will disappear and the disease months or years, even after treatment). will progress to the secondary stage. The most common Treatment sign of infection is a sore Treponema pallidum Secondary Stage - A skin rash will appear, v In the early stages, syphilis is easy to called a “chancre.” followed by mucous membrane lesions. If cure. If you’ve had syphilis less than a Chancres last 3-6 weeks, and heal without left untreated, the rash will heal, and the year, an injection of an antibiotic will cure treatment. When a chancre heals by itself, disease will progress to the tertiary stage. it. If you’ve had syphilis longer than a this does NOT mean that the syphilis infection year, you will need additional doses. is healing or going away — in fact, it means Characteristics of the skin rash: the disease is progressing to the next stage. • Rough, red or reddish-brown spots on v There are no over-the-counter treatments

the palms of your hands or bottoms of for syphilis. How Do I Get It? your feet. v While on treatment, you can still infect Syphilis is passed person-to-person through • Can develop while others until ALL chancres are completely direct contact with a chancre. chancre is healing, or a healed. few weeks after it has You CAN get syphilis from: healed. Syphilis skin rash on Reduce your Risk - What Works: • Vaginal, anal, or oral sex the hands. • Being born to an infected mother • Usually not itchy. • Abstinence. • Can be so mild it goes unnoticed. • Sticking to one mutually- You CANNOT get syphilis from: monogamous partner, who has been • Shared clothing Other symptoms: • Fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, tested for STDs. • Eating utensils • Good communication between • Toilet seats, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, fatigue. partners about sexual history, doorknobs, etc. including STDs. • Swimming pools & Tertiary Stage - Also called the hidden • Avoiding alcohol and drugs. hot tubs stage. It begins when the secondary • Latex condoms (used consistently Syphilis chancre symptoms disappear. and correctly, and only if all chancres are covered). REMEMBER - You can get syphilis again The bacteria damages • Combining any of the above. (be re-infected), even if you’ve had it before internal organs like the and were successful treated. brain, heart, nerves, What DOESN’T Work: blood vessels, liver, • “Pulling out” Quick Fact: bones, and joints. • Condoms (if chancres are not Syphilis has been called “The Great Signs of this damage covered). Imitator” because many of its signs & may not be apparent until years later, but • Birth control (pills, injection, etc.). symptoms are the same as other once the damage is done, you can’t reverse • Washing genitals, urinating, or diseases. or fix it. douching after sex.