During
the PRIMARY stage, the main symptom is an open sore
called a chancre (pronounced SHANKG-ker), at the point of
contact. Primary syphilis is noticeable on men when the lesion
is on the penis or scrotum. In females chancres may develop
on the external genitals, but they are more common in the
vagina or cervix (so you can't see them). The chancre heals
within one to five weeks.
From six
to twenty-four weeks later, symptoms such as a skin rash,
fever, achy muscles and joints brings the person into the
SECONDARY stage. These symptoms also eventually disappear
(in about 4 to 12 weeks) and the disease is no longer contagious.
However, a blood test for syphilis will remain positive. This
'symptomless' period is called the LATENT stage. This is when
the bacteria invade the organs of the body.
When signs
of organ degeneration appear, the disease is said to be in
the TERTIARY phase. Tertiary syphilis can occur as
late as 20 years after the initial infection. When syphilis
does go into the symptomatic tertiary stage is becomes a very
serious medical condition. Lesions develop in the organs of
the body. The lesions grow in the liver, bone, brain, spinal
cord, and cardiovascular system. Central nervous system lesions
can cause blindness, partial paralysis, memory loss or even
make the person 'go crazy' -- dementia.
Untreated
syphilis can cause a pregnant woman to have a baby with birth
defects or often it will die while still in the uterus.
