Howard Brown Health Center
Once thought as a disease of the past ( Al Capone died of syphilis ) , syphilis has recently made a rude appearance in the gay community.
Well-publicized outbreaks of syphilis have been reported in Seattle, LA, Miami, and NYC in the past one-to-two years. Kevin Starck, a public health advisor from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , reports, "I just returned from Miami to manage an outbreak among MSM ( men who have sex with men ) and it became clear to me that the community is well connected to a sexual network. I think the fact that MSM are a highly mobile population contributes to the outbreaks we have seen nationwide."
Chicago has always had more than its fair share of syphilis, ranking second in the nation in the number of cases reported over the past several years.
Since 1998, about a third of the male cases were reported in MSM ( men who have sex with men ) , mostly along the North Lakefront.
Carol Ciesielski, MD, medical epidemiologist from the CDC, reports that syphilis rates among whites have risen in Chicago by 327% since 1997 due to the cases among MSM. According to Ciesielski, many of the cases are occurring among men who are HIV infected, a worrisome trend given that active syphilis can really increase the risk of getting infected with HIV or of transmitting it.
Why should we be concerned, you ask? Well, there are a few reasons why we should be concerned. Most people don't know or can't recognize the signs or symptoms of syphilis. So they don't know that they have it. Syphilis, in its later stages, can cause damage to your brain, central nervous system, and cardiovascular system. Syphilis can also facilitate HIV transmission, making the risk of transmission two-to-five times more likely if active syphilis is present.
Syphilis is a complex sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema Pallidum. It is passed through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores are mainly found in the genital area. Sores can also occur on the lips and in the mouth and inside the rectum, and can vary in shape and size. Transmission occurs during oral, anal or vaginal sex. Syphilis cannot be spread by toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools or eating utensils.
The first symptom is the sore, called a chancre, which appears in about three weeks after exposure. It is usually firm, round, small and painless. It will last anywhere from one-to-five weeks and will heal on its own. If it's not treated, it will progress to secondary syphilis.
Typically during Secondary Syphilis, a rash will appear as rough spots on both the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet. The rash may also appear on the chest or back, as scales all over the body, as moist warts in the groin area or as slimy white patches in the mouth. Some of these signs on the skin look like symptoms of other diseases. Because of this, syphilis has often been called the "great imitator." Rashes typically last two-to-six weeks and clear up on their own. In addition to rashes, second stage symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, weight loss and muscle aches. A person can easily pass the disease to sex partners when first or second stage signs or symptoms are present.
The latent, or hidden, stage of syphilis begins when the secondary symptoms disappear. If the infected person has not received treatment, he or she still has syphilis even though there are no signs or symptoms. The bacterium remains in the body and begins to damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints. The damage may be serious enough to cause death.
So what's the good news? The good news is that syphilis is easily curable. One to three shots of penicillin will take care of it. Testing only requires a blood test. The CDC recommends that all sexually active people get a comprehensive STD Screen on at least a yearly basis. Ciesielski adds that regular testing is particularly important as recent Chicago surveys show that few MSM are familiar with the signs and symptoms of syphilis. Many men mistake the chancre for a zipper cut, and the rash for an allergic reaction. Recognition of the sore and rash, and prompt treatment for both the patient and their sex partners, are the most important steps in preventing syphilis from spreading.
Where can I get tested? There are a couple of options. Howard Brown Health Center's walk-in STD Clinic is open Mon.-Thurs. from 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and the cost is $65 for a comprehensive STD Screen ( Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea ) . Thanks to a grant from the Chicago Department of Health, Howard Brown Health Center provides free syphilis testing to gay and bi men as a part of their HIV testing and counseling. HIV testing at Howard Brown is provided on a sliding fee scale, from $0-$60. Call ( 773 ) 388-1600.
You can also get free HIV and STD testing at Steamworks and Man's Country twice a month. This free service is a collaboration between the Chicago Department of Health, Steamworks, Man's Country and Howard Brown Health Center. To find out testing times this month, call ( 773 ) 388-8864.
In addition, The Chicago Department of Public Health provides free testing, counseling and treatment at any of their locations. You can reach the Lakeview Clinic, at 2861 N. Clark, by calling ( 312 ) 744-5507.
Call Howard Brown Health Center for more information, ( 773 ) 388-8864.
