What Does Syphilis Look Like?

What Is Syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is highly infectious. It can cause irreversible damage to the nerves, brain, and body tissues. If the condition is not treated, almost every tissue and organ of the body can be affected by this chronic, systemic disease. Until the year 2000, syphilis rates were decreasing, but since then, it has increased, mostly in men.

Syphilis progresses step by step and it mainly occurs through sexual transmission. If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, it can easily be cured and prevented. However, if not treated properly, then it can cause severe damage to the cardiovascular system, brain, nerves, as well as cause blindness. Syphilis can spread through oral or anal sex. It is an infection caused by bacteria. Syphilis typically starts as a painless sore on the genitals, mouth, or rectum. These syphilis sores spread from one person to another through skin or mucous membrane contact.

Usually, the disease is passed from one person to another by way of prolonged kissing or close bodily contact. These bacteria can remain in a dormant state for years before becoming active. Early stage syphilis can be cured with an injection of penicillin. Syphilis can cause severe medical damage to the heart, brain, and other organs if proper medical treatment is not given.

In the United States, syphilis rates in women have decreased, but in men who have sex with other men, syphilis rates have increased. The sores in syphilis can cause AIDS by getting infected with the HIV virus. This disease is spread through sores, but in many cases, the sores may go unnoticed and unrecognized. Usually, the person infected with syphilis is unaware that they have the condition and end up spreading it unknowingly to his or her sexual partner.

What Does Syphilis Look Like?

Syphilis occurs in three stages:

• Stage one: Syphilis is mainly caused by Treponema pallidum and it is a highly infectious disease. Within two to three weeks, it slowly enters the bloodstream and the lymphatic system through the roughened skin or the mucosa membrane. Syphilis can cause HIV as well, since it can easily transmit HIV-infected blood. If a person has tested positive for syphilis, then the person should also get tested for HIV. Also, a person should regularly screen themselves for syphilis if they are suffering from HIV. Initially, syphilis develops as a small sore. This sore is called a chancre. Usually, chancres are round, firm, and painless and can also be wet. Generally, three weeks after exposure, they may develop. Between ten to ninety days after exposure, the sores may appear in or around the mouth or on the genitals. Within a span of six weeks, the sores will heal without a scar. Usually, there is only one sore, but there can be more than one in an infected person. Chancres may show up on the vagina, penis, anus, vulva, mouth, or lips. Also, these chancres can be hidden inside the foreskin, rectum, or vagina. Often, these chancres go unnoticed since they occur in places difficult to view and are generally painless. They are often mistaken as harmless bums, pimples, or ingrown hairs. The infection can move to the next stage if timely medication is not received.
• Stage two: At this stage, the person typically has a rash on the soles of their feet and the palms of their hands; sometimes, there may be rashes all over the body. The person may also even develop puffy lymph glands, white patches on the inner jaw, and fever. This stage lasts for one to three months. Within six weeks to six months of exposure to syphilis, the person will reach the secondary stage. The duration depends on the severity of the condition. On the palms, some people experience a rosy, “copper penny” rash. The rash may even develop on the soles of the feet and other body parts. At times, the rash looks similar to one developed in other conditions. Just as primary syphilis can be cured without any treatment, in the same way, no treatment is required to cure secondary syphilis; usually, the symptoms will go away with or without treatment. The difference between primary and secondary stage syphilis is, four to eight weeks after the initial infection, the secondary stage of syphilis begins and lasts for about one to three months. The maculopapular rash that develops on the palms and soles do not usually itch, but rough, reddish-brown spots may develop on the skin. At this time, other rashes with a slightly different appearance may show up on other body parts. These rashes are either not noticed by people or they just assume that there is some other cause and hence delay treatment. The symptoms may be mistaken for the flu or stress. These include a sore throat, swollen lymph glands, weight loss, patchy hair loss, muscle aches, and fever. If this stage is not treated, then about one third of patients will develop the next stage, which is the latent, or tertiary, stage. The latent stage precedes the appearance of tertiary stage symptoms and it is a symptom-less period.
• Stage three: The third and final stage can be caused if the infection is not treated in time. Serious damage can be caused to the brain, heart, and nerves. Further, this stage may cause deafness, paralysis, impotency, and blindness. If not treated, the patient may even die. This stage can last for three to four weeks, damaging the health of the person all the while.

When the symptoms of stages 1 and 2 disappear, the latent stage begins. There are no signs or symptoms of the disease even though the bacteria are still in the body. This stage can last for years. After the initial infection, the tertiary stage of syphilis may not show itself for 10 to 40 years. The brain, liver, joints, bones, and eyes may get damaged in tertiary syphilis. It may even cause death.

In babies, be vigilant for syphilis symptoms. Pregnant women may transmit the bacteria that cause disease to the unborn baby through the placenta. The doctor should be ready for any complications with proper placental care. In babies born with syphilis, the most common symptoms seen are:

• Intermittent fevers
• Enlarged spleen and liver
• Swollen lymph node
• Runny nose or chronic sneezing without any apparent allergic cause
• Maculopapular rashes on the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet
• Neurosyphilis and ocular syphilis

Syphilis, if not treated, can spread to the nervous system, brain, and eye. During any of the stages described above, this can happen. The symptoms include:

• Severe headache
• Difficulty coordinating movement in the muscles
• Numbness
• Paralysis
• Dementia
• Sometimes, it may even cause blindness and changes in vision

Lifestyle and Coping with Syphilis

Instead of treating the life-threatening disease, precaution is the best treatment. If the infection is detected at an earlier stage, the person can easily overcome the infection without any physical damage. However, while leading a life of uncertainties, one should remain careful and cautious. It is spread mainly through sexual contact with a person who already has syphilis. Syphilis can develop and spread during sexual activities such as vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

Many people do not even realize that they have syphilis since it is sneaky and its symptoms are mild or go unnoticed. Sometimes, syphilis may be confused with rashes or pimples. The symptoms may come and go, but the infection will not necessarily do the same. Medicine is the best way to get rid of the condition. If not treated, syphilis can lead to serious problems. When treated early with antibiotics, it is easy to cure, hence, no matter how healthy you are, if you have sex, then regular STD testing is very important.