Syphilis in Men: Symptoms, Stages & What to Expect
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
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