What is it?
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if it is not treated. Syphilis is divided into stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary). There are different signs and symptoms associated with each stage.
How is it spread?
You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can find sores on or around the penis, vagina, or anus. You can also find them in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth. Syphilis can spread from an infected mother to her unborn baby.
(Primary)First Stage- Painless sore on the genitals, rectum, or mouth or enlarged lymph node near the groin.
(Secondary)Second stage- Body rashes, mild fever, fatigue, sore throat, hair loss, weight loss, swollen glands, headache, and muscle pains.
Latent Stage- If you’re not treated for secondary syphilis, the disease may progress to the latent (hidden) phase. Not everyone who has syphilis will go through this stage. If you do, you won’t have any symptoms, maybe for years. In some cases, symptoms will never return. But the infection isn’t gone; the bacteria remain dormant in the body. Some latent cases may progress to the tertiary stage of the disease.
(Tertiary)Final Stage- This is the final, most severe stage of syphilis. It can appear 10 to 30 years after the initial infection. You might experience permanent organ damage and possible death.
