What are the symptoms of syphilis?

Symptoms of syphilis

Syphilis can be transmitted thru direct contact with a syphilis sore, which happens most frequently during sexual contact. For sexually acquired infections, there is an incubation period of 10–90 days before a painless papule (chancre) appears at the site of infection.

The primary lesion most often appears about three weeks after infection. Fever is usually absent. The lesion, which may not be noticed by the patient, resolves in 2–6 weeks without treatment. Four to 8 weeks after the appearance of the chancre, the secondary stage develops.

Symptoms include

• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Skin rash

The rash is usually not itchy and covers the entire body in a symmetric pattern. The skin is hardened and the lesions become scaly.

The diagnosis of secondary syphilis can be determined by the presence of the typical skin rash and positive blood tests for syphilis.

Symptoms of secondary syphilis

• Skin rash
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Achy joints
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Meningitis
• Hepatitis
• Losing hair