However, without treatment, a person still has syphilis. These symptoms will go away whether treatment is received. Other symptoms of secondary syphilis may include: Some people don’t notice the rash before it goes away. The rash won’t itch and is usually found on the palms and soles, but it may occur anywhere on the body. Skin rashes and a sore throat may develop during the second stage of syphilis. This usually occurs during sexual activity, including oral sex. Syphilis is transmitted by direct contact with a sore. Sometimes the only symptom will be swollen lymph nodes. On average, the sore shows up around 3 weeks after infection, but it can take between 10 to 90 days to appear. This sore may appear wherever the bacteria entered the body, such as on or inside the mouth, genitals, or rectum. People may not even notice when they have one. A chancre is painless, but it’s highly infectious. It begins with a small, round sore called a chancre. The primary stage of syphilis occurs about 3 to 4 weeks after a person contracts the bacteria. Tertiary syphilis is the most destructive to health. When syphilis is in the hidden, or latent, stage, the disease remains active but often doesn’t cause symptoms. Syphilis is most infectious during the first two stages. Let’s go over what we know about syphilis, who is most at risk, and what the standard treatments for it are today. If you do have syphilis, understanding this infection can help you recognize signs of the condition and prevent transmission. Understanding the symptoms and causes of syphilis can help you protect yourself. Syphilis that remains untreated for a long time can cause major damage to important organs, such as the heart and the brain. However, the earlier syphilis is discovered, the better. Someone can have it without showing any symptoms for years.

Syphilis in people with vaginas is rising slightly more than in people with penises, though both groups are seeing an uptick in cases overall. In 2020, 133,945 new cases of syphilis (all stages) were reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Despite this, rates of syphilis are actually rising among several demographics in the United States. In fact, treatments are so well established that, at one point, it was thought possible to eradicate syphilis completely. People have been getting, treating, and surviving syphilis for hundreds of years. It can be hard to diagnose, but without treatment, it can cause serious damage to multiple body systems over time. Syphilis is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum and is transmitted through sexual contact.

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