What do the stages of syphilis look like?

The symptoms for syphilis vary depending on which stage of infection the patient is in.

Stage 1 Syphilis Symptoms: (starts 3-12 weeks after initial infection)

• Development of painless brownish-red open sores (chancres) on, in or around the genitals and insides of the mouth.
• Sores typically go away after one to five weeks
• Even after chancres go away, the patient still has syphilis

Stage 2 Syphilis Symptoms: (starts 2-7 months after initial infection)

• Rashes (on the body, hands, or feet)
• Mucous patches
• Alopecia (patchy hair loss)
• Clusters of hard, white warts (on genitals).
• Symptoms go away;
• Even after stage 2 symptoms go away, the patient still has syphilis.

Stage 3 Syphilis Symptoms (can occur years after initial infection)

• Loss of eyesight
• Loss of hearing
• Heart disease
• Brain damage
• HIV-positive patients sometimes progress to the Stage 3 Syphilis more quickly than those who do not have HIV.

Syphilis can progress to have very serious health consequences for patients. Since symptoms for the various stages of syphilis go away on their own many patients do not realize they have syphilis. It is very important for sexually active people to get routinely tested for Syphilis