Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. It is transmitted from one person to another by sexual contact and by touching the syphilis sores. If it is not treated, syphilis can lead to permanent brain, nerve, and tissue damage.

The bacteria that causes syphilis enters the vagina, mouth or rectum. If you touch a sore on an infected person, some of the bacteria will probably rub off onto your body. You may get syphilis if the bacteria gets near any moist membranes of your body, such as the vagina, mouth, rectum, or any cuts or breaks in the skin.

During the first stage of syphilis, a smooth, red, painless sore called a chancre appears. People usually get these chancres near the genital area, but they can form anywhere on the body. Women may not know that they have a chancre if it is inside their vagina. For men, chancres on the penis can usually be seen. Chancres may appear 10 days to 3 months after contact with an infected person but generally appear in 2 to 6 weeks. The sores last 3 to 6 weeks.

If you do not get treatment in the first stage, the disease develops into secondary syphilis. This stage begins 6 to 12 weeks after contact with an infected person and may last for weeks to as long as a year. Symptoms include a pink or red bumpy, scaling skin rash that does not itch and may come and go. It may also include brown sores about the size of a penny and spots on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. This rash usually heals within several weeks or months. It is very contagious and you can infect other people with this rash. You may also have swollen lymph glands, flu symptoms such as fever, body aches, headache, fatigue, or hair loss in clumps.

If syphilis is not treated by the second stage, the infection stays in the body and causes even more damage. Between 2 and 30 or more years later, the third stage of syphilis will appear. During this stage, syphilis can affect the skin and the tissues of the brain, and heart. This can lead to severe heart disease, brain damage, paralysis, and death.

Syphilis can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy and birth. It can cause birth defects or even death to the baby. A pregnant woman, who gets prenatal care, will be checked for syphilis and will be treated if she has it. The medications used will treat the mother and the baby.

You can reduce your chance of getting syphilis by not having any sexual contact. If you are sexually active, it is very important to practice safe sex and limit sexual contact to only one partner. Always use a latex condom during intercourse. However, remember that syphilis can be passed to another person by just touching the sore.

If you are concerned about syphilis, a blood test can show if you are infected. To be tested, contact a healthcare provider, the health department, or a family planning clinic.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File SEXU4955.RF2 VRS# 4955 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999, 2002-2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.