What are syphilis symptoms in men?

Primary syphilis

- A firm, round, painless sore (called a chancre) on the penis, scrotum, or rectum.

- The chancre usually appears 10 to 90 days after exposure to syphilis.

- The chancre usually heals by itself within 3 to 6 weeks, even without treatment.

Secondary syphilis

- A rash that appears on the trunk and spreads to the extremities.

- The rash is typically red or brown and may be accompanied by itching or scaling.

- Other symptoms may include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, and joint pain.

- These symptoms may appear 2 to 8 weeks after the chancre has healed.

Latent syphilis

- This is the hidden stage of syphilis.

- There are no symptoms or signs of the disease.

- Latent syphilis can last for years or decades.

Tertiary syphilis

- This is the most severe stage of syphilis.

- It can cause damage to the brain, heart, eyes, and other organs.

- Symptoms may include:

- Blindness

- Deafness

- Paralysis

- Mental impairment

- Death

Congenital syphilis

- This is syphilis that is passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

- Symptoms of congenital syphilis may include:

- Premature birth

- Low birth weight

- Skin rash

- Blindness

- Deafness

- Mental impairment