The symptoms for syphilis depend on the stage of the disease. But a significant proportion of infected individuals may not show any symptoms. It may take up to three months after infection for the symptoms of primary syphilis to become evident. In the absence of symptoms, microscopic identification of syphilis bacteria; and blood tests are the best methods of diagnosis.
The symptoms of primary syphilis are:
• presence of one or more sores on the genitals, mouth or rectum, which could pus and be extremely painful. This lasts for around six weeks.
• small lumps caused by swollen glands in the groins.
The symptoms of secondary syphilis generally appear some weeks after ulcers have gone, and may disappear in a few weeks. But they may keep recurring and disappearing for years. The symptoms are:
• a rash of dark patches mostly on the palms and soles, which is not-itchy,
• feeling unwell, feverish, fatigue and malaise, headaches,
• wart-looking growths on the genitals,
• white patches on the insides of the mouth,
• patchy hair loss (alopecia),
• in some cases, major body organs like the liver, kidneys and brain get affected.
The symptoms of tertiary syphilis are:
• infiltrative and destructive lesions on the skin, bones, or liver
• cardiovascular syphilis, which causes inflammation of the aorta
• central nervous system disorders that could involve meninges, brain, eye, spinal cord, or auditory system.
The symptoms of primary syphilis are:
• presence of one or more sores on the genitals, mouth or rectum, which could pus and be extremely painful. This lasts for around six weeks.
• small lumps caused by swollen glands in the groins.
The symptoms of secondary syphilis generally appear some weeks after ulcers have gone, and may disappear in a few weeks. But they may keep recurring and disappearing for years. The symptoms are:
• a rash of dark patches mostly on the palms and soles, which is not-itchy,
• feeling unwell, feverish, fatigue and malaise, headaches,
• wart-looking growths on the genitals,
• white patches on the insides of the mouth,
• patchy hair loss (alopecia),
• in some cases, major body organs like the liver, kidneys and brain get affected.
The symptoms of tertiary syphilis are:
• infiltrative and destructive lesions on the skin, bones, or liver
• cardiovascular syphilis, which causes inflammation of the aorta
• central nervous system disorders that could involve meninges, brain, eye, spinal cord, or auditory system.