08/11/2021
Syphilis is an infection that develops due to T. pallidum bacteria. These bacteria can spread between people through direct contact with a syphilitic sore.
These sores may develop on the skin or mucous membranes of the va**na, a**s, re**um, lips, or mouth.
Syphilis is most likely to spread during oral, a**l, or va**nal sexual activity. People rarely pass the bacteria on through kissing.
The first sign is a painless sore on either the ge***als, re**um, mouth, or another part of the skin. Some people do not notice the sore, as it does not cause pain.
These sores resolve on their own. However, if a person does not receive treatment, the bacteria remain in the body. They can remain dormant in the body for decadesTrusted Source before reactivating and damaging organs, including the brain.
Symptoms
Doctors categorize the stage of syphilis as either primary, secondary, latent, or tertiary. A variety of symptoms define each stage.
The disease can be contagiousTrusted Source during the primary and secondary stages and, occasionally, the early latent phase. Tertiary syphilis is not contagious, but it has the most severe symptoms.
Primary symptoms
The symptoms of primary syphilis include one or more painless, firm, and round syphilitic sores, or chancres. These appear 10 days to 3 months after the bacteria enter the body.
Chancres resolve within 2–6 weeks. However, without treatment, the disease may remain in the body and progress to the next phase.
Secondary symptoms
Secondary syphilis symptoms include:
sores that resemble oral, a**l, and ge***al warts
a nonitchy, rough, red or red-brown rash that starts on the trunk and spreads to the entire body, including the palms and soles
muscle aches
fever
a sore throat
swollen lymph nodes
patchy hair loss
headaches
unexplained weight loss
fatigue
These symptoms may resolve a few weeks after they first appear. They might also return several times over a longer period.
Without treatment, secondary syphilis can progress to the latent and tertiary stages.
Read more about secondary syphilis.
Latent syphilis
The latent phase can last for several years. During this time, the body will harbor the disease without symptoms.
However, the T. pallidum bacteria remain dormant in the body, and there is always a risk of recurrence. Doctors still recommend treating syphilis at this stage, even if symptoms do not occur.
After the latent phase, tertiary syphilis may develop.
Tertiary syphilis, or late syphilis
Tertiary syphilis can occur 10–30 yearsTrusted Source after the onset of the infection, usually after a period of latency during which there are no symptoms.
At this stage, syphilis damages the following organs and systems:
heart
blood vessels
liver
bones
joints
Gummas may also develop. These are soft tissue swellings that can occur anywhere on the body.
Organ damage means that tertiary syphilis can often lead to death. Treating syphilis before it reaches this stage is, therefore, critical.
Neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis is a condition that develops when T. pallidum bacteria have spread to the nervous system. It often has links to latent and tertiary syphilis. However, it can occur at any time after the primary stage.
A person with neurosyphilis may be asymptomatic for a long time. Alternatively, symptoms might develop gradually.
Symptoms includeTrusted Source:
dementia or altered mental status
abnormal gait
numbness in the extremities
problems with concentration
confusion
headache or seizures
vision problems or vision loss
weakness
Conge***al syphilis
Conge***al syphilis is severe and frequently life threatening. T. pallidum bacteria can transfer from a pregnant woman to a fetus through the placenta and during the birth process.
Data suggest that without screening and treatment, about 70% of women with syphilis will have an adverse outcome in pregnancy.
Adverse outcomes include early fetal or neonatal death, preterm birth or low birth weight, and infection in infants.
Symptoms in newborns include:
saddle nose, in which the bridge of the nose is missing
fever
difficulty gaining weight
a rash of the ge***als, a**s, and mouth
small blisters on the hands and feet that change to a copper colored rash, which may be bumpy or flat, and spread to the face
watery nasal fluid
Older infants and young children may experience:
Hutchinson teeth, or abnormal, peg shaped teeth
bone pain
vision loss
hearing loss
joint swelling
saber shins, a bone problem in the lower legs
scarring of the skin around the ge***als, a**s, and mouth
gray patches around the outer va**na and a**s
In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Cuba as the first country in the worldTrusted Source to have entirely eradicated conge***al syphilis.
Learn how to recognize different STDs here.
