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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by bacterial infection. The medical term for syphilis that is diagnosed in the earliest stages is primary syphilis; other stages include secondary syphilis, latent syphilis, and tertiary syphilis. Young adults are the group most commonly affected by syphilis. The early symptoms are small, painless sores on the genitals and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. This condition can affect many different parts of the body, so later, symptoms can differ widely from person to person. Practicing safe sex using condoms or dental dams helps to reduce the risk of catching syphilis. Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. With early and effective treatment, most people recover well.

Causes and risk factors

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a microorganism called Treponema pallidum. If a syphilis infection is not diagnosed and treated, it tends to cause waves of symptoms. These are called the primary, secondary, and tertiary (late) stages. It can take years for syphilis to progress from the first stage to the late stage. Young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 are most commonly diagnosed. Factors that increase the chances of contracting syphilis include:

Unprotected sex, i.e. sex without a condom or dental dam
Sex with new partners whose STI statuses are not known
Sharing hypodermic needles and/or injection apparatus

It is also possible for pregnant people who have contracted syphilis during pregnancy to pass on the infection to their children in utero, meaning in the womb.

If you are concerned that you may have contracted an infection, You can search for the nearest doctor Find my doctor.

Stages of syphilis

Syphilis has four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary.

Primary syphilis is the initial stage of infection. In this stage, a flat, painless ulcer known as a chancre develops at the point where the infection entered the body. The chancre usually appears between 10 and 90 days after infection and heals on its own after about two to twelve weeks. The chancre will heal whether or not the affected person receives treatment. However, unless the infection is treated, the affected person remains infectious even once the chancre has healed.^[1]

Secondary syphilis affects about a quarter of all people who are not treated for primary syphilis and comes two to ten weeks after primary syphilis. It has many symptoms, including a distinctive rash, which is typically most severe between three and four months after infection. Secondary syphilis can last between about one and six months. If secondary syphilis is not treated, up to 80 percent of people enter the latent phase, in which they will be asymptomatic.^[2]

Neurosyphilis

Neurosyphilis is a form of syphilis that affects the brain, the membranes covering the brain, and the spinal cord.^[4] Although it is most often associated with the tertiary stage of syphilis, it can occur at any stage of the condition. These days, neurosyphilis is often associated with HIV infection: approximately half of all people who develop neurosyphilis are HIV-positive.^[3] Before the invention and widespread use of antibiotic drugs, neurosyphilis was more common.

Congenital syphilis

The pathogen Treponema pallidum can easily cross the placental barrier between the mother’s bloodstream and that of the infant.^[2] Mothers who have untreated syphilis run an increased risk of stillbirth or neonatal death.^[5] Untreated syphilis in a mother can lead to the death of the infant in up to 40 percent of cases. Mothers who are treated for syphilis while pregnant have a lower chance of their children being affected. This is especially true if the infection is identified and treatment given early in the pregnancy, as the Treponema organism does not cross the placental barrier until about the fifth month of pregnancy.^[2]

Babies born with a syphilis infection may be asymptomatic at first but can develop problems later. Babies that show the symptoms of congenital syphilis within the first two years of life are said to have early congenital syphilis, while those who develop symptoms later in life have late congenital syphilis. Especially common is a cluster of symptoms known as Hutchinson’s triad, which includes deformed incisor and molar teeth, deafness, and scarring of the cornea due to swelling inside the eye. Other signs include saddle nose, a condition where the bridge of the nose collapses, and Parrot’s furrows, which are radiating scars around the mouth caused by the healing-over of skin lesions.

Symptoms

The early symptoms of syphilis are:

A painless sore in the genital area, mouth or buttocks
Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin

Good to know: These symptoms usually go away within weeks and are not noticed sometimes. Some people with syphilis infection do not have the chance, although most do.

As the condition progresses, the affected person may develop symptoms including:

A rash
Fever
Joint pain
Hair loss
Small lumps in the genital area
Muscle aches

The later stages of syphilis develop slowly over years and affect the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. There are many possible symptoms, including:

Shortness of breath
Confusion
Forgetfulness
Loss of coordination
Nerve damage

Symptoms in adults

The bulk of new cases of syphilis are found among adults, and the majority of these are contracted through sexual contact. All syphilis infections among adults begin with primary syphilis – it is not possible to have secondary or tertiary syphilis without having had primary syphilis. If primary syphilis is not treated, about a quarter of all people affected will develop secondary syphilis. In some cases, the condition will then progress to latent syphilis and, finally, to tertiary syphilis.

Primary syphilis

Primary syphilis is the first stage of infection and causes a chancre, which is a firm, round or oval ulcer that appears at the location where the infection entered the body.^[5] The chancre discharges a clear serum, which contains large numbers of Treponema pallidum, and is therefore very infectious. Chancres may affect the:^[2]^[3]

Penis
Anal canal
Buttocks
Vulva
Labia
Mouth and lips
Fingers

The chancre is typically not painful and does not discharge pus. Usually, only one chancre appears. However, in some cases, they may be painful, discharge pus, or appear in groups. Lymph nodes near the chancre may also be enlarged and tender.^[3]

The chancre usually appears between ten and 90 days after the initial infection. It heals on its own in about two to twelve weeks, whether or not the affected person receives treatment. The affected person will still be infectious, unless they have received treatment.^[2]

Good to know: Because the symptoms of primary syphilis, including the chancre, can be vague, it is possible for primary syphilis to go unnoticed.

If you’re concerned that you or someone you care for may have this disorder, Reaching out to your doctor is your best option Doctor near me.

Secondary syphilis

Secondary syphilis has many symptoms, including distinctive rashes. Other common symptoms include:^[2]^[3]^[6]

Fever
Headaches at night
Muscle and joint aches
Malaise
Nausea
Sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes

Less common symptoms of secondary syphilis include:

Patchy hair loss
Weight loss
Meningitis, inflammation of membranes covering the brain
Hepatitis, inflammation of the liver
Enlarged spleen
Inflammation of the membranes surrounding bone, known as periostitis
Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, known as uveitis
Kidney problems, such as glomerulonephritis
Cranial nerve palsies, which affect the nerves in the head and face, sometimes causing vision problems such as double vision

Latent syphilis

Latent syphilis is often asymptomatic. Due to effective treatments now available for primary and secondary syphilis, it is rarely seen nowadays.

Tertiary syphilis

Tertiary syphilis has a number of symptoms. Tertiary syphilis is a complex stage because the cardiovascular and neurological effects of the condition manifest in many different ways.

Cardiovascular problems that can result from tertiary syphilis include:^[2]^[3]

Aortic aneurysm, in which the wall of the aorta weakens and forms a bulge, which can leak
Aortitis, in which the aorta is inflamed
Angina, a painful condition in which blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced

Neurological manifestations of tertiary syphilis may include:^[2]^[3]

Tabes dorsalis
General paresis of the insane
Meningeal syphilis
Meningovascular syphilis

For more information on these conditions, see below.

Gumma, or gummatous lesions, are large soft benign tumors that can form in the skin anywhere on the body and also in the mouth, organs, bones, testes, and upper respiratory tract. They are most commonly found on the lower leg.[3] Gumma tends to have a somewhat rubbery texture with a centre of dead tissue. Occasionally, gumma may ulcerate and destroy tissue.^[2] Gumma is an uncommon manifestation of tertiary syphilis.

Congenital syphilis symptoms in children

Congenital syphilis may remain asymptomatic throughout life, but in many cases, symptoms do appear. It is rare for symptoms to be apparent at the time of birth: over 60% of babies with congenital syphilis only show symptoms later in life.

In early congenital syphilis, which appears within the first two years of life, symptoms can include:^[7]

Rash on the infant’s palms and soles
Skin lesions around the nose and mouth
Skin lesions in the diaper area
Enlarged lymph nodes
An enlarged spleen and liver
A runny nose, known as rhinitis, with bloody mucus
Failure to thrive
Hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid on the brain
Acute meningitis
Seizures
Intellectual disabilities

Good to know: The nasal discharge of infants with syphilis-related rhinitis contains large numbers of Treponema pallidum, and is therefore infectious.

In late congenital syphilis, symptoms can include:

Gumma and gumma-related ulcers affecting the nose and mouth
Central nervous system abnormalities such as hydrocephalus, seizures, intellectual disability, loss of sight, and problems with movement
Loss of sight
Loss of hearing
Dental deformities
Abnormally swollen knee joints, known as Clutton’s joints, and shin bones, known as saber shins, a condition in which the shinbone becomes deformed due to softening

The symptoms of syphilis transmitted by sexual activity are rare in children, but in the uncommon cases where they do occur, they are the same as those in adults.

Rash and sores in syphilis

In primary syphilis, the most distinctive symptom of the infection is the chancre, a small, flat and painless ulcer that develops at the site of infection. This chancre may be pink and is usually round or oval in shape.

In secondary syphilis, a rash is one of the most distinctive symptoms. This rash does not have a uniform appearance but may take on several different forms, including:

A red and/or pink skin rash, which turns reddish-brown. It may be faint. This rash can affect the soles, the palms and the face. This rash may occasionally spread to cover the entire body, but it does not itch.

Flat, soft growths, known as condylomata lata, occur around the vagina and/or anus, or other warm, moist areas of the body and mucus membranes. These are pink or grey, not painful or itchy, and often disappear spontaneously.

White patches on the tongue and/or roof of the mouth.

A rash is not a common feature of other stages of syphilis, but in tertiary syphilis, gummatous lesions affecting the skin may develop. If you are concerned that you might have contracted syphilis, contact your doctor Find My doctor location.

Symptoms of neurosyphilis

Neurosyphilis can manifest in several different ways. Symptoms of early neurosyphilis may include:^[4]^[8]

Acute syphilitic meningitis
Meningovascular syphilis

Symptoms of late neurosyphilis may include:^[4]^[8]

General paresis (of the insane)
Tabes dorsalis

Good to know: Neurosyphilis can also be asymptomatic.

Acute syphilitic meningitis, also known as meningeal syphilis, presents much the same as viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis do, with symptoms such as a stiff neck, a headache, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, the affected person may lose vision or hearing.^[4]^[8] This complication can occur within a few months of the initial syphilis infection.

Meningovascular syphilis usually occurs about seven years after the affected person first contracts syphilis. Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and stroke.[4][8] Stroke typically comes last, while headache, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting are prodromal symptoms, meaning they indicate that something more serious is coming. Meningovascular syphilis occurs when the blood vessels in the subarachnoid space, i.e. between the meningeal membranes, become inflamed, which can lead to clotting and blockages and therefore to stroke, even in younger people.

General paresis (of the insane) (GPI) typically occurs two to three decades after the initial infection and develops slowly. Symptoms of general paresis may initially be more obvious to close associates, such as friends, family, and colleagues of the affected person than they are to the affected person. Symptoms of GPI may include:^[4]^[8]

Memory problems
Apathy and withdrawal
Irritability
Loss of interest in work or personal affairs
Mood changes
Personality changes

GPI can also manifest as schizophrenia or other cognitive disorders, but most commonly presents as presenile dementia. Symptoms of presenile dementia include depression, confusion, memory loss, and impairment of judgment.^[8]

Learn more about Signs of Dementia

Tabes dorsalis is a condition resulting from a slow, progressive degeneration of tissues around the spinal cord. It can take anything from about five to 50 years for tabes dorsalis to develop. Symptoms of tabes dorsalis may include:^[4]^[8]

Loss of ability to sense pain, vibration and position
Worsening ataxia, a condition that can result from loss of a sense of the relative position of body parts and causes changes in movement and function
Loss of reflexes
Loss of bladder control
Loss of sexual function
Sharp, excruciating, sudden stabs of pain in the abdomen and limbs, known as lancinating pains
Nausea and vomiting
Severe pain around the upper abdominal region

Good to know: Ataxia affects gait, speech, and eye movements, as well as voluntary muscle movements and coordination. As ataxia progresses, the affected person may begin to speak indistinctly or have difficulty speaking, develop a gait in which the forward foot slaps the ground rather than being steadily placed, and be unable to control the direction of their gaze.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is usually made based on the symptoms, a physical examination, and a blood test for syphilis antibodies, which are proteins that fight the infection. Many people are diagnosed by screening, i.e. testing people at risk without symptoms, because syphilis can cause no symptoms or very unusual symptoms. If there is an ulcer present, a sample of fluid from the ulcer may be taken and investigated for signs of the bacteria.

Laboratory tests for syphilis

Testing for syphilis is usually done on blood samples. In some cases, where neurological effects are being seen or neurosyphilis is suspected, a lumbar puncture may be carried out to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is then tested.^[9]

The two main types of laboratory tests for syphilis are nontreponemal tests and treponemal tests.

Nontreponemal tests test for antigens produced by a syphilis infection, not specifically for the Treponema pallidum microorganism itself. This sort of test is used for syphilis screening.

While this sort of test is widely used, it can result in false-positive results if the tested person is pregnant, uses intravenous drugs, or has other infections or autoimmune disorders. Furthermore, if the person being tested is in very early primary syphilis or late latent syphilis, they may get a false-negative result.^[10]

Generally, people who test positive using a nontreponemal test will need a follow-up treponemal test to confirm the diagnosis.

Treponemal tests detect antibodies that are specific to Treponema pallidum. These tests were initially more expensive and difficult to carry out than nontreponemal tests and were therefore not used for screening, but are used to confirm a diagnosis. These days, it is possible to use them for screening, known as reverse screening. However, treponemal tests cannot tell whether a syphilis infection is active or latent and should therefore be followed by a nontreponemal test, which can tell the difference.^[11]

Previously, the best way to test for syphilis was to use a process known as darkfield microscopy to see whether there were Treponema pallidum microorganisms in a sample of fluid taken from a chancre. This is no longer the best method, as it is not suitable for asymptomatic cases, as well as being expensive, difficult, and requiring highly-trained staff. It is no longer often used in clinical practice.^[10] While rapid tests for syphilis are being developed and may have limited availability in the U.S.A., they are not yet thought to be as reliable as laboratory-based tests.

Good to know: Home test kits are available, but are not recommended as they are not considered to be reliable.

Treatment and management

Syphilis is treated with antibiotics. Follow-up tests are usually done to test if the infection has been completely treated. Benzathine penicillin is the first-line treatment of choice for all stages of syphilis. Other options, especially if the affected person is allergic to penicillin, are doxycycline and ceftriaxone. Benzathine penicillin is usually administered via an intramuscular injection, while doxycycline and ceftriaxone are usually administered either intravenously or intramuscularly. All three are administered in large doses, over one or several consecutive days. Benzathine penicillin can be administered in several different dosage patterns, depending on the stage of syphilis being treated.

Although it is not always necessary for someone receiving this kind of treatment to be hospitalized, the size of the dosage and the method of delivery usually means that treatment is done under the direct supervision of a doctor or nurse.^[12] This supervision also improves the chances that the affected person will complete the course of treatment, as receiving a single dose given by a doctor means that there is no possibility of the affected person missing a dose when they go home.

After treatment, improvement is usually swift. However, an uncomfortable condition known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction may occur shortly after receiving antibiotics, as dying Treponema pallidum organisms release toxins into the bloodstream. This condition is short-term and is usually not dangerous. Symptoms include:^[13]

Muscle pain
Fever
Headache
A rapid heartbeat

If this reaction occurs, antibiotics will **not be discontinued, ** but a corticosteroid such as prednisone or cortisone may be prescribed as treatment.

Prognosis

If treated correctly with antibiotic therapy, primary and secondary syphilis have an excellent prognosis.^[4] However, because tertiary syphilis usually occurs after years of latent infection, the overall prognosis of syphilis varies. Untreated tertiary syphilis can be fatal, especially if it has involved the cardiovascular system.^[2] People affected by gummatous tertiary syphilis, however, often see improvement after treatment.

Newborn babies affected by congenital syphilis have variable outcomes, but fatality can occur.^[2]

People affected by neurosyphilis have different outcomes. People who have asymptomatic neurosyphilis and meningeal neurosyphilis usually return to normal health. People with meningovascular syphilis may improve, but, especially if a stroke has occurred, seldom return to normal health.

General paresis of the insane and tabes dorsalis have lifelong effects: while the affected person may improve, they will not regain lost functions. The earlier the disorder is identified and treated, the better the prognosis.^[4]

Prevention

Practicing safe sex can prevent new syphilis infections. Barrier methods such as condoms and dental dams are if used correctly and with appropriate lubricants, effective in preventing syphilis from being passed from one partner to another.

Pregnant women are usually screened, i.e. tested without symptoms for syphilis to prevent passing the bacteria to their child.

Syphilis and HIV

The rates of syphilis infection in the U.S.A. decreased after the 1970s, largely due to improved treatment methods and sexual health education. However, since the 2000s, rates of syphilis infection have increased worldwide. In the U.K and the U.S.A., new cases of syphilis infection are concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM).

In the U.S., about half of MSM with syphilis are also living with HIV.^[14] Sexual behaviors that increase the chances of acquiring an STI such as syphilis also increase the risk of contracting HIV. People who already have an STI that creates breaks in the skin, such as syphilis, are several times more likely to acquire HIV if they are exposed to the virus.^[15]

While being HIV-positive does not always change the course of a syphilis infection, there is some evidence that syphilis can progress from stage to stage more quickly in people with HIV. There is also some evidence that, because HIV hinders the immune system’s responses to a syphilis infection, this leads to more severe symptoms and less effective treatment.^[15]

Syphilis FAQs

Using condoms on sex toys, with a new condom for each partner.

Cleaning the toys thoroughly between uses, using soap and water or a dedicated toy-cleaning solution.

Using the correct type of lubricant, as using the incorrect type will cause damage to the toy’s surface, making it more difficult to clean.

Other names for syphilis infection

Primary, secondary or tertiary syphilis
Lues primary state
Primary lues venerea
Primary syphilis infection

Brook. “Syphilis”. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩
Medscape. “Syphilis”. 11 July 2017. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Patient.info Professional Version. “Syphilis”. 30 December 2016. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “Neurosyphilis Information Page”. 10 July 2018. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Syphilis – CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed)”. 30 November 2017. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
adoctor.org. “Secondary Syphilis”. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
MSD Manuals Professional Version. “Congenital Syphilis”. July 2018. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
Medscape. “Neurosyphilis Overview of Syphilis of the CNS”. 17 July 2018. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
MedLine Plus. “Syphilis Tests”. 7 November 2018. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
American Family Physician. “Diagnosis and Management of Syphilis”. July 2003. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩
Lab Tests Online. “Syphilis Tests”. 16 May 2016. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
Institut national d’excellence en sante et en services sociaux. “Syphilis: Pharmacological Treatment”. March 2016. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩
Patient.info Professional Version. “Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction”. 25 February 2015. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Syphilis & MSM (Men Who Have Sex With Men) – CDC Fact Sheet”. 26 September 2017. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
University of California San Francisco HIV InSite. “Syphilis and HIV”. June 2006. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩ ↩
Sexwise. “Syphilis”. March 2018. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
UpTpDate. “Syphilis: Screening and diagnostic testing”. 6 December 2018. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩
Planned Parenthood. “Syphilis”. Accessed 12 December 2018. ↩

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**What is Syphilis Infection?**

**Q: What‍ is⁤ syphilis?**

**A:** ⁣Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI)‌ caused by the bacterium⁢ **Treponema pallidum**. It can affect both men and women and can spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

**Q:‍ What are the stages of syphilis?**

**A:** Syphilis ⁣progresses through four stages:

* **Primary syphilis:** A painless ⁣sore called a **chancre** develops at the site ‍of infection within⁤ 10-90‌ days after exposure.

* **Secondary syphilis:** Typically occurs 2-8 weeks after the chancre heals. Symptoms include a rash on the palms of ⁣the hands and soles of the feet, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and headaches.

* **Latent syphilis:** The infection goes into hiding but may remain in the body⁢ for years or decades.

* **Tertiary syphilis:** Develops in ⁣about 15% of untreated cases and can affect multiple organs, including the brain, heart, and eyes.

**Q: What are the symptoms of syphilis?**

**A:** Symptoms vary depending on the stage of infection. ‌In primary syphilis, the chancre is the only symptom. In secondary syphilis, symptoms‌ include rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. In latent syphilis, there are ⁢often ‌no symptoms. In tertiary syphilis, ‌symptoms can include neurological problems, blindness, and ‌heart disease.

**Q: How is⁢ syphilis diagnosed?**

**A:** Syphilis is diagnosed through **blood tests** that detect antibodies against the ⁣bacterium.

**Q: How is syphilis‌ treated?**

**A:** Syphilis is treated with **antibiotics**,⁣ typically penicillin. The earlier treatment is started,⁢ the better the chances of preventing⁣ serious complications.

**Q: How can I prevent syphilis?**

**A:** Syphilis can be prevented by:

* Using condoms during vaginal, anal, and oral sex

* Limiting the‌ number of sexual partners

* Getting tested regularly⁣ for STIs

* Not⁤ sharing sex toys

**Q:‌ Is syphilis curable?**

**A:** Syphilis is curable if treated promptly. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems and ‍even death.

**Keywords:**

* Syphilis

* Sexually transmitted infection⁤ (STI)

* Treponema pallidum

* ‍Chancre

* Rash

* Latent syphilis

* Tertiary syphilis

*⁤ Blood test

* Antibiotic treatment

* ⁤Condom use

* STI testing

3 Comments

Mark Torres

July 4, 2023 / 9:47 am Reply

Thanks for the helpful article!
rebekahcarranza

February 20, 2024 / 2:30 am Reply

Syphilis Infection: A Comprehensive Overview
rebekahcarranza

February 20, 2024 / 2:30 am Reply

Understanding Syphilis Infection: Its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment