Syphilis numbers have been gradually increasing since 2010, especially in the Perth metro area. Syphilis can easily transmitted through oral sex and anal sex with or without condoms. It can stay infectious for a long time and can effect multiple body systems, leading you to be quite sick.
It is important, now more than ever, to test regularly for syphilis and treat in all situations. That also means treating for contacts of syphilis. By treating contacts, we can prevent further transmission and actually lead to decrease in syphilis rates.
If you are a contact of syphilis, you are entitled to having pre-emptive treatment for syphilis. Click here to have some information on what to do next if you are told to be a contact of syphilis.
If you are a GP and have had a patient say they are a contact of syphilis, you have the opportunity to provide them with pre-emptive treatment and prevent further transmission. Click here to understand the process regarding treating contacts of syphilis, including where to access Bicillin if you are running short in your practice.
If you want to know more about how often MSM should be testing, follow this link to read recommendations on testing asymptomatic MSM in Australia
