Yes. Penicillin is the first-choice treatment for every stage of syphilis. It usually cures the disease. If you are allergic to penicillin, your health care provider can use a different medicine unless you are pregnant.
Tertiary (late) stage
During this stage, syphilis may cause serious blood vessel and heart problems, mental disorders, blindness, nerve system problems, and even death. The symptoms of tertiary (late) syphilis depend on the complications that develop.
white or grey warty growths most commonly on your penis, vagina or around your anus. a rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet that can sometimes spread all over your body – this is not usually itchy. white patches in your mouth. flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches and tiredness.
Syphilis rashes are often red or brown and usually don't itch. Other symptoms may include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches, hair loss, and feeling tired. These symptoms may go away on their own. If you don't get treatment, the disease will progress to the next stage.
Blood. Blood tests can confirm the presence of antibodies that the body produces to fight infection. The antibodies to the syphilis-causing bacteria remain in your body for years, so the test can be used to determine a current or past infection.
Tertiary syphilis is very serious and would occur 10–30 years after your infection began. In tertiary syphilis, the disease damages your internal organs and can result in death.
Some people experience mild flare-ups from time to time. At this stage, the infection can damage your heart, bones, nerves and organs. This stage can last up to 20 years. It's rare to pass syphilis to your sex partners during the latent stage.
Sometimes referred to as late stage syphilis, around 15% of people who are infected will progress to this stage. It can occur 10-30 years after infection. In this phase, the infection causes damage to vital organs like the brain, heart, eyes, and ears. It also affects both nervous and muscular systems.
Syphilis sores (AKA chancres) usually start to show up around 21 days (3 weeks) after you've been infected. However, they can show up anywhere from 10 days to 3 months after you've been infected.
The first sign of syphilis is a small sore, called a chancre (SHANG-kur). The sore appears at the spot where the bacteria entered your body. While most people infected with syphilis develop only one chancre, some people develop several of them. The chancre usually develops about three weeks after exposure.
For uncircumcised individuals, it is important to roll back the foreskin and examine the coronal sulcus. Figure 3. Images of primary syphilis penile chancres that could be mistaken for genital herpes or chancroid. Images A, C, and D courtesy of Joseph Engelman, MD; San Francisco Department of Health.
The characteristic rash of secondary syphilis 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, sometimes resembling rashes caused by other diseases.
Signs and Symptoms of Syphilis in Females. The characteristic sign of syphilis is the appearance of a sore, known as a chancre, on the infected area. These sores are firm, round, and painless, though they can potentially burst and become open and wet. This is also when the bacterial infection is at its most contagious.
During the primary stage of syphilis, one or more sores (chancres) form at the site where the bacteria entered the body. This often occurs within 3 weeks of exposure but can range from 10 to 90 days. A person is contagious during the primary stage and can easily pass the infection to others.
If syphilis is not treated, it can cause serious health problems, including neuralgic (brain and nerve) problems, eye problems, and even blindness. In addition, syphilis is linked to an increased risk of transmission of HIV infection.
Secondary Stage syphilis symptoms take the form of a mild red rash. Other symptoms can include swollen lymph nodes, body aches, feelings of fatigue, weight loss, headaches, fevers, hair loss, or sore throats.
Untreated, it has a mortality rate of 8% to 58%, with a greater death rate in males. The higher incidence of mortality among males compared to females is not well understood, but is thought to be related to immunological differences across gender.
You can live a normal life, but it's important to take precautions to protect others. First, get treatment and wait until a healthcare provider tells you you are cured before you have sexual activity. If syphilis progresses to the last stage, it can affect many vital organs and be life-threatening.
By and large, syphilis is an infection you get through sexual contact with an infected person. What's unusual about this disease is that if it's not treated, it can last in the body for decades. Most people, in fact, aren't aware they have it.
A syphilis rash doesn't usually itch. People may mistake a syphilis rash for psoriasis, eczema or pityriasis rosea if they don't realize they have syphilis. While the rash often appears on the hands or feet, it can also appear on the torso, trunk or extremities.
Neurosyphilis refers to the infection of the brain and spinal cord by the syphilis bacteria. This can lead to destruction in many areas of the nervous system, causing loss of function of a person's arms or legs, loss of vision, and altered mental abilities.
What does a syphilis sore (chancre) look like? When this ulcer first appears, it will look like a small pimple or area of swelling. The skin then breaks down and becomes a raised open sore. This is when Treponema pallidum enters through your skin into your body.
Screening tests for syphilis usually include: Rapid plasma reagin (RPR), which is a blood test. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, which can be done on blood or spinal fluid.