Is syphilis the same as AIDS?

Syphilis and AIDS are two completely different sexually transmitted diseases. Syphilis is caused by infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Early symptoms include hard chancres and swollen lymph nodes, and it can be completely cured with penicillin treatment. AIDS is caused by the HIV virus attacking the immune system, with an incubation period lasting several years, requiring lifelong antiviral therapy to control disease progression. Although both diseases can be transmitted through sexual contact, blood, and mother-to-child transmission, syphilis can be transmitted through intact skin contact with lesion secretions, whereas HIV transmission requires exchange of bodily fluids. Individuals cured of syphilis are no longer infectious, but people living with HIV still pose a transmission risk even with effective disease control.

After engaging in high-risk behavior, immediate specific testing should be conducted. Syphilis is diagnosed using TPPA and RPR serological tests, while AIDS requires combined testing for HIV antibody and p24 antigen. Syphilis testing becomes accurate only 2-3 weeks after the appearance of hard chancres, and the window period for AIDS is 2-6 weeks. Patients diagnosed with syphilis should receive standardized injections of benzathine penicillin; those allergic to penicillin may switch to doxycycline. Sexual contact should be avoided during treatment. Within 72 hours after HIV exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis can be initiated to reduce the risk of infection. Consistent use of qualified condoms and avoiding needle sharing are recommended in daily life. Patients with syphilis need to have their serum titers checked every 3 months until they become negative, while HIV-infected individuals must regularly monitor CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and viral load. Both conditions require notification of sexual partners for joint testing, as individuals previously cured of syphilis can still be reinfected upon subsequent exposure.