3 Ways to Prevent Neurosyphilis

1. Get Treatment for Syphilis Infections

There is only one way to contract neurosyphilis, and that's by letting a syphilis infection go untreated for as long as 15 to 20 years. In this day and age, syphilis can be easily treated through the use of common antibiotics, such as penicillin and tetracycline, so complications like neurosyphilis and general paresis are becoming increasingly rare.

Be aware of the symptoms of syphilis. These include the appearance of painless sores, or chancres, around the genital area. It may be more difficult to detect syphilis in females since chancres often develop around the cervix. Regular gynecological exams will prevent syphilis from progressing undetected.

2. Follow Through on Treatments for Syphilis

If you contract syphilis, blood tests should be performed at three, six, 12 and 24 months after your initial treatment with antibiotics. Neurosyphilis can occur if these blood tests are not given to confirm that the infection has not returned. In other words, you may develop neurosyphilis by believing that the initial infection has been properly treated and by skipping follow-up tests and exams.

3. Engage in Safe Sexual Practices or Practice Abstinence for 24 Months

If you have contracted syphilis and have been treated with antibiotics, the best way to prevent further infections or neurosyphilis is to refrain from unsafe sexual practices. While many doctors will recommend complete abstinence during the 24-month period after an infection has been treated, this may be unrealistic for many people. Condoms can be used to reduce the chance of spreading infections, but blood tests should be performed on a regular basis to ensure the absence of the bacteria that causes syphilis. In addition, sexual partners should be tested for syphilis infections during this 24-month period. It is possible for sexual partners to re-infect each other repeatedly if proper precautions are not taken.