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Can syphilis go away on its own?

No, treatment with antibiotics is always required to treat syphilis. The way syphilis presents makes many people think it has gone away on its own. Syphilis has three stages:

  • Primary: Syphilis begins with no symptoms other than a small painless ulcer located near the area where the patient was first exposed. 
  • Secondary: Weeks to months after the first symptoms syphilis will spread to the bloodstream. This leads to a large number of mild symptoms, the most obvious is a red scaly rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. 
  • Tertiary: The most serious form of syphilis. Tertiary syphilis can begin several months to many years after first exposure. The bacteria that cause syphilis can attack the heart, nerves, and other structures throughout the body. This causes severe symptoms such as confusion, weakness, headache, and loss of sensation in areas of the body. This often leads to death if untreated.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of ACA compliant major medical plans. Coverage and plan options vary and may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure. You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed.

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