Syphilis

There are 4 stages of syphilis infection: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary

Primary: 3 or 4 weeks after infection

• Single painless sore usually about a centimeter big at the site where the infection entered the body — penis, vagina, cervix, mouth or anus. There may also be swollen lymph nodes.

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Secondary: 7 to 10 weeks after the initial infection

• Red rash-palms, soles, chest or back

• Fever, sore throat, headaches

• Enlarged glands in the armpits and groin

• Hair loss

• Weight loss

• Body aches- pain in the bones, muscles and joints

• Fatigue

• Ulcers in the mouth, nasal cavity or genitals

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Latent: (sleeping) syphilis generally has no symptoms and it is only picked up on blood tests.

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Tertiary: 5 to 20 years after primary infection.

At this stage, the bacteria can damage almost any part of the body including the heart, brain, spinal cord, eyes and bones, resulting in heart disease, mental illness, blindness, deafness and neurological problems.