Diagnosis

The use of a condom is essential to protect yourself and your partners against STDs. If you have any concerns, you should have an STD screening test. In the event of an infection, follow the treatment correctly and inform your sexual partners.

How is syphilis diagnosed?

  • Classic blood test, which gives a result within one week
  • Swab in the case of a sore to confirm the diagnosis
  • Rapid blood test: small amount of whole blood collected by finger-prick test which gives a result 20 minutes later

Blood tests become positive from 15 to 20 days after contamination.

Screening for syphilis is carried out automatically on pregnant women in Belgium.

DID YOU KNOW? The co-infections most frequently observed with HIV are syphilis and gonorrhea. Joint screening for HIV and STDs is recommended for men who have sex with men (MSM).

Sciensano compiles two reports each year documenting the evolution of STDs in Belgium. The reports are based on data-collection networks.

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