1. Painless Sores
Syphilis comes in four stages; the first stage is known as the primary stage. During this time, painless sores (chancres) will appear on the body shortly after someone is infected. Often firm and round, these sores appear where syphilis entered the body and last for a few weeks before disappearing, with or without treatment.
Left untreated, syphilis can advance further and cause worsening damage and symptoms…
2. Skin Rashes and Other Lesions
The secondary stage of syphilis is marked by rashes or mucous membrane lesions. Experts describe these rashes as being rough and either red or reddish brown. Unlike primary syphilis rashes, secondary rashes can appear on the hands or bottoms of the feet and the torso. Like the first rash, though, these sores are typically painless and not itchy.
Rashes are easy to see, but they aren’t the only signs of secondary-stage syphilis…
3. Fever
In the secondary stage, a person may develop a fever. Often, it is mild, under 101°F (38°C). This fever may be easy enough to miss, which is why it’s necessary to look for other symptoms, like the following…
4. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Another potential sign of secondary syphilis is swollen lymph nodes. These signs, along with others of secondary syphilis, occur about 4 to 6 weeks after the first stage. Lymph nodes can swell throughout the body during this stage, not just near the initial infection site.
Other signs of general infection during this stage include…
5. Sore Throat
The secondary stage causes many signs of general infection, including a sore throat in some people. This sore throat and other secondary stage symptoms may only occur once or on and off for roughly a year.
The following sign of the secondary phase is noticeable with the naked eye…
6. Patchy Hair Loss
Up to 7% of people with secondary syphilis can experience hair loss, although experts are unsure how exactly the disease causes this symptom. This hair loss can either be diffuse (evenly thinning) or patchy (referred to as “moth-eaten alopecia”).
Most symptoms of syphilis are painless, unlike the following…
7. Headaches
Some people might assume that symptoms of syphilis are restricted only to the site of infection. However, that simply isn’t the case; this STD can affect the whole body. One way this manifests in the secondary stage is through headaches.
Severe headaches can also be a sign of neurosyphilis, which can occur at any point after an infection, not just the secondary phase. Neurosyphilis indicates that the infection has spread to the brain and spinal cord and requires immediate medical attention.
The following symptom may occur during the secondary stage…
8. Weight Loss
With all the havoc syphilis wrecks on the body, it’s no wonder appetite loss can occur. Some weight loss may also occur during the secondary stage due to a loss in appetite. Unfortunately, the unpleasantness doesn’t stop there…
9. Muscle Aches
Those who notice the previous symptoms along with muscle aches may have cause for concern, as muscle aches can occur during primary syphilis, along with the following symptom…
10. Fatigue
Fighting syphilis can be incredibly taxing on the body. Muscle aches, fever, appetite loss, headaches… it only makes sense that the body would feel worn out. Once secondary syphilis is over, the following can occur…
11. No Symptoms
After secondary syphilis, the latent stage occurs. As the name suggests, this phase is marked by no symptoms, as the disease lays seemingly latent in the body. Unfortunately, just because someone doesn’t feel symptoms doesn’t mean damage isn’t occurring. In some cases, untreated syphilis patients can progress to the tertiary stage, which is marked by…
12. Internal Organ Damage
In some cases, untreated syphilis can progress to the tertiary stage, where serious damage can occur decades after the initial infection. In this stage, syphilis has spread throughout the body and caused damage to many organ systems, including the lungs, brain, and heart. In worst-case scenarios, the damage is so extreme that it is fatal.
