I know this disease stuff is rather uncomfortable to discuss. Remember, it's even more uncomfortable to catch. Just a few more diseases to be alerted to and then we shall get back to the juicy dating stuff.

You think syphilis is something you could never get. You never know! This is what finally "did in" Al Capone.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is spread from contact with the open sores that may be present on the skin or on mucous membranes. This means you can get syphilis from kissing as well as all other forms of sex.

Most people don’t get symptoms early on, which mean this disease can go undetected until it causes great damage to your heat, brain and nervous system.

Those who do get symptoms may notice rashes especially on the palms and soles of the feet. Painless sores may develop on the penis, vagina, in the mouth and or anus.

Maybe you’ll start to see a correlation here with the sex acts we perform and the sites of these sores. (Yeah, I don't understand the soles of the feet thing either. But who knows? Next thing we will hear about athletes vagina).

There are three stages of syphilis. The primary stage is usually marked by the appearance of a single sore (called a chancre). The time between infection with syphilis and the start of the first symptom can range from 10 to 90 days (average 21 days). The chancre is usually firm, round, small, and painless. It appears at the spot where syphilis entered the body. The chancre lasts 3 to 6 weeks, and it heals without treatment. However, if adequate treatment is not given, the infection progresses to the secondary stage.

Skin rash and mucous membrane lesions characterize the secondary stage. The characteristic rash of secondary syphilis may appear as rough, red, or reddish brown spots both on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet. The rashes of syphilis don't usually itch.

Other symptoms include patchy hair loss, fever, swollen lymph nodes and fatigue. These symptoms usually last for several weeks and go away without any treatment, however the disease does serious damage if not treated in the early stages.

In the third stage of syphilis, the disease may damage the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints. Signs and symptoms of the late stage of syphilis include difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, and dementia. This damage may be serious enough to cause death.

The open genital sores (chancres) caused by syphilis make it easier to catch HIV infection sexually. There is an estimated 2- to 5-fold increased risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to that infection when syphilis is present.

Avoiding alcohol and drug use may also help prevent transmission of syphilis and most STDs, because these activities may lead to risky sexual behavior, like having sex with too many people at one time, sex with perverts and promiscuous people or sex with farm animals. 

Syphilis cannot be spread through contact with toilet seats, doorknobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils. So that kills that excuse when people ask you how you got it.

Treatment is usually very effective as long as you start early. It involves getting a shot of penicillin; usually one dose.