Syphilis is an STI that develops in stages. Early syphilis can be easily cured. However, a person can be infected with syphilis and not have any symptoms for years. (So get regular check-ups.)
The first symptom of syphilis is a chancre. It usually forms about a month after infection, but with it being painless and its ability to develop inside the anus or vaginal canal, it can be easily overlooked (Mayo Clinic, 2024).
There is a rash that appears due to secondary syphilis. The rash usually presents on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Oh, did I forget to mention that with secondary syphilis, mucous patches can develop inside the mouth, vulva, and vaginas?
By the time an infected person reaches the late stages of syphilis, they are no longer contagious. At this stage, syphilis is tearing up the internal organs of an infected person. Oh, and there are the gummas (pictured below) that develop on the skin of infected persons.
Condylomata lata lesions may also appear on the vulva or near the anus during late-stage syphilis.
Reference
CDC. (2017). Home – Public Health Image Library(PHIL). Cdc.gov; CDC.gov. https://phil.cdc.gov/Default.aspx
Mayo Clinic. (2024, September 10). Syphilis – Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/syphilis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351756
Zhou, S., & Rishi Chanderraj. (2023). What Is Syphilis? JAMA, 329(19), 1710–1710. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.2897
