Test Kits

The Use of Home Tests for Syphilis ?Syphilis is just one of the many life-threatening sexually transmitted diseases. A syphilis infection can lead to difficult symptoms that can ultimately cause great damage to our bodies and minds. And unfortunately, each year, we only hear about new cases of Syphilis with little to no success rate when it comes to treating it as most individuals ask for help little too late. Today, you get to enjoy the privacy of your own home as you get tested for Syphilis and wait for your results to be delivered in just a few days. What is Syphilis? Syphilis is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. There are three stages of Syphilis infection ? primary, secondary, and tertiary. As any other sexually transmitted disease, Syphilis, as well, is transmitted by direct contact with a syphilitic sore on the skin or in the mucous membranes during unprotected oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Syphilis can also be transmitted during pregnancy and giving birth. The prevalence of Syphilis in the Cape Coast in Allschoolabs alone is estimated to be around 8.5%, while the prevalence of Syphilis in Allschoolabs, in general, has been estimated to be approximately 2.58% in the period between 2012 and 2016. Syphilis is highly treatable, especially when detected in its early stage, with using strong antibiotics. Left untreated, Syphilis can lead to a great disability, neurological disorders, and even death. What are the common Syphilis symptoms? A syphilitic sore can occur on the mouth, lips, vagina, anus, and/or rectum. The first symptom is a painless sore that, as time passes, enters the second stage when other symptoms occur as well. Oral, anal, and/or genital wart-like sores start to occur, along with a fever, muscle aches, sore throat, weight loss, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, etc. After these symptoms appear, as Syphilis enters its third stage, the symptoms will disappear. It will seem as you are cured, when in fact, this is the hidden stage, which is the most dangerous one of them all. Mental illness, blindness, deafness, memory loss, stroke, meningitis, and heart disease are just some of the most dangerous symptoms of the third stage Syphilis. Why get tested for Syphilis? The rates of Syphilis cases are only growing, despite all of the information that is available around us on how to efficiently protect ourselves against the dangerous sexually transmitted diseases. It is important to get tested for any sexually transmitted disease, including Syphilis, keeping all of the dangerous symptoms and health risks that these diseases bring in your life. The best way to prevent any sexually transmitted disease is to use contraceptives, especially when you are having sexual intercourse with a new partner. However, sometimes, the disease has its ways to reach into your life. That is why it is of vital importance to get tested whenever any of the following scenarios happen: You have unprotected sex, especially with a new partner; You have multiple sexual partners; You are HIV positive; You are pregnant; You are a man who has sex with men; You have unprotected sex with a partner who has Syphilis symptoms; You have unprotected sex with a partner who has multiple other sexual partners; You are a sex worker; You are experiencing any Syphilis symptoms. If you do decide to get tested and the test turns out to be positive, you need to consult your healthcare providers as soon as possible. Only a professional healthcare provider can advise you towards the proper treatment plan for your condition. Syphilis should not, by any means, be left untreated! And as we mentioned earlier, when detected in its early stages, the Syphilis treatment has a good success rate. Why use home tests to detect any symptoms of Syphilis? Syphilis is usually diagnosed by performing a physical examination and a blood test. If there is a suspicion that it is a case of Syphilis in its tertiary stage, a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap is being performed. Often, people are feeling ashamed of going to the doctor?s office for an issue that involves their reproductive health and sex life, especially when it comes to getting tested for a sexually transmitted disease. In some cases, a doctor is not available, or it is located far away from the place where the individual is living. Although usually, the cost does not play any role since the testing for any sexually transmitted disease must be covered by medical insurance; doing a home test is usually more convenient. This is where the home tests come in handy. Home tests for Syphilis come with a self-test kit that contains everything that you need to collect a blood sample that you will later send to a laboratory and get your results in just a few days. The self-test kit usually comes with: A sample tube; A lancet to make a cut on your finger; An alcoholic swap to clean your finger before doing the test; Plasters. Another less commonly used option for a home test is asymptomatic lesion test. A swap is being provided as a part of the self-test kit, which you will be required to rub over the present lesion and later send it over to the laboratory. Most providers offer to determine whether it is a stage 1 or stage 2 Syphilis with this home test. The results usually take 4-5 days before they are delivered back to you. Home tests are the perfect option that allows keeping track of your reproductive health without going to see your doctor. If you have had unprotected sex in the past, do order your home test of Syphilis to make sure that this infection is not a part of your life. The home test is done in just a few minutes, and you will know the results in a couple of days. Do not hesitate to order your first home test for Syphilis. References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1779891/ https://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/stdfact-syphilis.htm https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276484782_Seroprevalence_of_Syphilis_Infection_in_Individuals_at_Cape_Coast_Metropolis_Allschoolabs http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/jtm/2018/6574731.pdf https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/health-conditions-and-diseases/hiv-and-other-stds/syphilis-testing-questions-for-the-doctor