You know what, I heard some folks talking ’bout syphilis and tongue the other day. Sounded like a real nasty thing. This syphilis, it’s some kinda sickness, I reckon. Gets passed around, you know. Not the kinda thing you wanna catch, that’s for sure. And it messes with your tongue, too! Can you believe it?
They said it starts with these little sores. Like, right there on your tongue. Or maybe your lips. Or even inside your mouth, way back near them dangly things, those tonsils, ain’t it? Starts small, like a little red spot, they say. But then it gets bigger. And it ain’t pretty. Turns kinda red, or yellow, or even gray. Just an open sore, sittin’ there. Makes me sick just thinkin’ about it.
This syphilis, it’s got stages, like. First stage, that’s when them sores show up. They call ’em something fancy… chancre, I think it was? Sounds like a dang cancer, but it ain’t. Just a sore. But it don’t hurt, they say. Weird, huh? A sore that don’t hurt. Stays there for a few weeks, then goes away all by itself. But don’t be fooled, that sickness ain’t gone. It’s just hidin’.
- First, you get that sore.
- Then, it goes away. Don’t mean you’re cured, though!
- Next, you might get a rash. Or more sores.
Then comes the second stage. More sores, but different. All over your mouth, they said. Tongue, lips, even the sides of your mouth. And they might be whitish, or gray. And sometimes, they hurt. Like them canker sores, but worse. This whole thing, it just sounds awful. And this is just the mouth part, ain’t it? I hear it does other things, too. Bad stuff.
Now, they say this syphilis thing comes from, well, you know. Being with someone who’s got it. It is a sexually transmitted infection, they called it an STI. That’s how it gets around. So you gotta be careful who you’re with. Real careful. And it can get in through cuts, too. So if you got a cut in your mouth, and someone with syphilis, well… you get the picture.
And this ain’t new, neither. Folks been gettin’ syphilis for a long time. And with people doin’ that oral stuff, well, it’s showin’ up in mouths more often, they said. This oral syphilis is caused by some kinda bug. A bacteria they called it. Treponema pallidum, I think that was the name, the complicated name. Sounds like somethin’ from outer space. But it’s what causes all this trouble. This bug can get into your body and cause all sorts of problems. Not just in your mouth, but all over.
If you don’t get it treated, it can get real bad. I heard it can even mess with your insides. Your organs, and everything. That’s the later stages. Way down the road. But still, you don’t want it gettin’ that far. You don’t want it at all. Syphilis symptoms can affect the lips, tongue, and other parts, if you know what I mean.
So, if you see any weird sores in your mouth, or on your tongue, or anywhere else, you best get it checked out. This ain’t somethin’ to mess around with. It might look like a little pimple at first, but don’t ignore it. Don’t be waitin’ for that to show up. You gotta be careful out there. This syphilis thing is serious business.
It can show up anywhere in your mouth, really. Oral syphilis can be on your tongue, or your gums, or the roof of your mouth. Anywhere. And them sores, they can be on your lips, too. Or around your mouth. It’s just nasty. Best to avoid it altogether, if you ask me.
This syphilis, it’s a disease. An infectious one. Means it spreads easy. And it can cause a whole bunch of different problems. Different symptoms, they call ’em. Depends on what stage it’s in. It is just a terrible thing, you really do not want to catch it.
So, you be careful out there. And if you think you might have it, you go see a doctor. Don’t wait. Get yourself checked. It’s better to be safe than sorry, that’s what I always say. You do not want syphilis on your tongue.
