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Sexually Transmitted DiseasesSymptoms of syphilisThe first symptom of primary syphilis is a sore called a chancre ("shan-ker"), which can appear within 10 days to 3 months after exposure. Chancres usually develop on the part of the body exposed to the bacteria, such as the penis, the vulva, or the vagina, as well as the cervix, tongue, lips, or other parts of the body. Because the chancre is ordinarily painless and sometimes occurs inside the body, it may go unnoticed. The next stage of syphilis is marked by a skin rash that appears anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks after the chancre appears, sometimes accompanied by symptoms like mild fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, as well as patchy hair loss, and swollen lymph glands throughout the body.Syphilis has sometimes been called "the great imitator" because its early symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases. There are three ways to diagnose syphilis: a doctor’s recognition of its signs and symptoms, microscopic identification of syphilis bacteria, and blood tests. A combination of these approaches allows physicians to detect syphilis and determine the stage of infection. About 3 to 7 percent of persons with untreated syphilis develop neurosyphilis, when the bacteria invade the nervous system during the early stages of infection. Symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, fever, seizures, numbness, weakness, or visual complaints.
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