Syphilis

Statutory notification

• Syphilis is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 208KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Treponema Pallidum(T. Pallidum) bacteria.
• Transmission: Syphilis is passed on by unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex with an infected person. It can also be spread through intimate or skin to skin contact with an infected person. An infected mother can pass syphilis on to her baby via the placenta during pregnancy.
• Incubation period: From 9 days to 3 months from exposure to primary syphilis.
• Infectious period: Infected persons are presumed to be infectious. Without treatment, infection can persist for years.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: Antibiotic treatment as recommended by the Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections – WA
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case follow-up: Is the responsibility of health care providers.

Guidelines

• Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA
• Other WA and National policies and guidelines

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports