The Symptoms of Syphilis

Syphilis is a STD that is caused by infection with a form of bacteria. It is one of the STDs that can be treated and cured.

Unlike the other common STDs syphilis has three distinguishable phases. These phases all include Syphilis symptoms:

* Primary Stage. During this initial stage of infection the individual may develop a sore or a series of sores. This is referred to as a chancre. It will appear at the point at which the syphilis enters the individual’s body. Although it doesn’t occur directly after exposure it will appear sometime within the first 90 days. It does heal on its own but that can take upwards of 6 weeks to occur.

* Secondary Stage. During this stage the individual will develop a rash on their body. The rash may be similar to a rash from another ailment. In some cases the rash will appear reddish while in other individuals it is brownish. This is a clear syphilis symptom. The rash generally begins to form once the lesion or lesions have healed.

* Late Stage. During this final stage of syphilis the initial syphilis symptoms will have disappeared. During this stage the disease is spreading within the body and can affect other organs including the brain, hearts, liver and joints. Although this damage can take years to show up, it can have devastating results including blindness and in some severe cases that go untreated, death is a possibility.

During the primary and secondary stages of syphilis the symptoms can easily be attributed to another condition. The lesion may be mistaken for a blister and the rash can be thought of as an allergic reaction.

Although many people don’t seek medical attention for these syphilis symptoms, there is the possibility that if the disease goes undiagnosed and untreated, serious health problems will set in.

If you have any of the syphilis symptoms and you are sexually active consult with your doctor about being tested. The test is either done through examination of a specimen taken from the lesion or by way of a blood test. The time it takes to visit the doctor and have the test done is well worth the health benefits that come with knowing whether or not you are infected.

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