Understanding Syphilis - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms?

There are three stages of syphilis. Call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• In the first (primary) stage, which usually starts about three weeks after exposure, painless sores (usually just one) called a chancre appear on the genitals, rectum, anus or mouth. The chancre lasts 3-6 weeks and will heal on its own. Lymph glands near the chancre may be swollen as well. Left untreated, the disease may progress to the second stage.
• In the second (secondary) stage, which occurs approximately two weeks to two months after the appearance of the painless sores, a non-itchy red or reddish-brown spotty rash may appear anywhere on the body (often on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet). You may have symptoms, such as headache, fever, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph glands, patchy hair loss, loss of appetite, weight loss and pain in bones and joints -- all of which could be symptoms of other diseases. Symptoms may then disappear, but without treatment the bacteria remain in the body.
• In the third (late) stage, which can start anytime from one year to several decades later, joints may be affected, resulting in arthritis. The infection also can affect other specific parts of the body as well including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, bones and liver.

Cardiovascular syphilis develops in approximately 10%-15% of patients, causing heart disease.

Neurosyphilis can occur in the nerves and may cause paralysis, blindness, dementia, psychiatric problems, or loss of sensation in the legs. It develops in about 8% of untreated patients.

Without treatment, syphilis can be life-threatening. It is extremely important to treat it before it progresses to a later disease stage. Treatment should be taken even if there are no current symptoms. 

Call Your Doctor If:

• You see the characteristic chancre sores or rash of syphilis.
• You have been exposed to someone with the disease.