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Syphilis
infection occurs in 3 distinct stages. Early or primary syphilis infection can
be mistaken for many other conditions. People with primary syphilis will
develop one or more chancre sores. The sores resemble large round bug bites
and are often hard and painless. They occur on the genitals or in or around
the mouth somewhere between 10-90 days (average 3 weeks) after exposure. They
heal without a scar within 6 weeks. The secondary stage may last 1-3 months
and begins within 6 weeks to 6 months after exposure. People with secondary
syphilis experience a rosy "copper penny" rash typically on the palms of the
hands and soles of the feet. They may also experience moist warts in the
groin, white patches on the inside of the mouth, swollen lymph glands, fever,
and weight loss. Latent syphilis is where the infection lies dormant
(inactive) without causing symptoms. If the infection isn't treated, it may
then progress to a stage called tertiary syphilis characterized by severe
problems with the heart, brain, and nerves that can result in blindness,
dementia, impotency, and even death if its not treated.
Penicillin is usually enough to destroy the infection. For those allergic to
penicillin, tetracycline or doxycycline can be given instead.
Without treatment, syphilis can cause serious and permanent problems such as
dementia, blindness, or death.
Links
http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/108/27009
http://www.ashastd.org/stdfaqs/syphilis.html
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/dstd/SyphilisInfo.htm
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdsyph.htm