What is the Syphilis Project?
The Syphilis Project is an initiative by the Onion Lake Health Centre to combat the rising cases of syphilis in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Onion Lake Cree Nation. Our mission is to raise awareness, educate our community, and provide essential information to help protect everyone’s health.
Our Goals
- Raise Awareness: Informing our community about the dangers of syphilis and the importance of prevention.
- Education: Providing access to valuable information and resources about syphilis.
- Testing Information: Offering guidance on getting tested and where to go for testing.
- Treatment Plans: Sharing information on treatment options to stop the spread of syphilis.
Our Commitment
Over the next several months, we are committed to bringing you the latest and most accurate information related to syphilis. We want to empower our community with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their health.
Stay Tuned
Please stay tuned for more updates on this page and our social media channels. We encourage you to share our resources to help us reach as many people as possible. Together, we can work towards a healthier and safer community.
Contact Onion Lake Health Centre
If you have any questions, would like to book an appointment or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can call and ask for Tammy, Brandi or Tracy.
Phone: (306) 344-2330 extension 2216
Address: Box 70, Onion Lake, SK, S0M 2E0
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm
What is Syphilis?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. If left untreated, it can cause serious health problems. Cases of syphilis are on the rise in Canada. Syphilis can be transmitted through:
- vaginal, anal or oral sex
- sharing sex toys
- the placenta to a developing fetus
- blood transfusions in places where blood is not screened
- In Canada, all donated blood is screened for syphilis.
- skin contact with a syphilis sore (known as a chancre) or rash
- childbirth, when the baby comes in direct contact with lesions or fluids
Symptoms and the Stages of Syphilis
You may not notice that you have any symptoms of syphilis. However, you can pass syphilis even if you show no visible symptoms. If left untreated, syphilis can move through 4 stages, which have different signs and symptoms. Some symptoms or effects can occur at any stage of infection, such as syphilis of the brain and nervous system (neurosyphilis).
These can include: headaches, dizziness (vertigo), vision changes (ocular syphilis), coordination or balance problems (ataxia), hearing loss, ringing in the ears (otic syphilis), memory problems, personality changes (dementia).
Symptoms of primary syphilis can include: swollen glands in the groin or neck and/or a sore or ulcer that’s firm, round and painless (a chancre)
The chancre occurs where syphilis entered the body, which can be: on the lips, in the mouth or throat, in the genital or anal area.
Since a chancre may not be visible and is usually painless, many people with syphilis don’t recall having had one.
Symptoms of secondary syphilis can develop between 2 to 12 weeks after exposure. These can include: fever, headache, patchy hair loss, swollen glands in the groin or neck, white, wart-like sores (condylomata lata), a rash, often including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
These symptoms may be mild and you might not notice them. They may also be confused with other conditions.
Untreated secondary syphilis will progress to a latent stage. During this stage, you may not notice symptoms for up to 20 years.
Someone without symptoms who has syphilis for less than 12 months is in the early latent stage. Even without symptoms, you can pass early latent syphilis to others. Someone without symptoms who has symptoms for more than 12 month is in the late latent stage. Late latent syphilis is typically not transmissible to others.
Latent syphilis will then progress to a teriary stage.
During this stage, your brain, heart, blood vessels and nervous system will start getting affected. Ultimately, untreated tertiary syphilis can lead to death.
Testing for Syphilis
The only way to know for certain whether you or your partner have syphilis is by taking a simple blood test.
We’re here to make it easy for you. Just drop by the Onion Lake Health Centre or give us a call at (306) 344-2330 to schedule an appointment that suits your convenience. Don’t delay – take charge of your health and know your syphilis status now!
If you are unable to make it to the Onion Lake Health Centre, you can also visit a health care provider, sexual health clinic or a local public health unit.
Treating Syphilis
Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics, usually given by injection (shot). The earlier you start treatment, the better your health outcomes.
Even if you’re treated, you can get syphilis again if you have sex with someone who has the infection and has not been treated or has not finished treatment.
If you’re diagnosed and treated for syphilis, be sure to follow your health care provider’s treatment and follow-up advice, avoid contact with sores or sexual activities with your sexual partner(s) until you and your partner(s) have completed your antibiotic treatment and been told by your health care provider that the infection is gone.
Once you have been treated for syphilis, you’ll need to go for follow-up blood tests to make sure the infection is gone. It’s important that you attend all of the scheduled visits.
Notify all of your sexual partners about their risk of infection. This is so they can be tested and treated.
If you’re uncomfortable notifying your partner(s), ask your health care provider at the Onion Lake Health Centre for support.
