|
 Syphilis is a bacterial infection that has often been called "the great imitator" because so many of the signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases.
Many people infected with Syphilis do not have any symptoms for years, yet remain at risk for late complications if they are not treated. Most transmission is from persons who are unaware of their infection.
There are three stages of Syphilis; primary stage, secondary stage and late stage.
The primary stage of Syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a single sore called a chancre, but there may be multiple sores. The time between infection and the start of the first symptom can range from 10 to 90 days(average 21 days). The chancre is usually firm, round, small and painless. If adequate treatment is not administered, the infection progresses to the secondary stage.
The secondary stage is characterized by a skin rash and mucous membrane lesions. It typically starts with the development of a rash on one or more areas of the body. The rash usually does not itch and may appear as rough, red, or reddish brown spots both on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet.
However, rashes with a different appearance may occur on other parts of the body. The secondary stage may also include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patch hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches and fatigue. If untreated, the infection will progress to the latent and late stages of the disease.
In the late stages of Syphilis, it may subsequently damage the internal organs, including the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints. The internal damage may show up many years later. Signs and symptoms of the late stage include difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness and dementia. This damage may be serious enough to cause death.
|
