What should you know about syphilis stages?

Primary syphilis often begins with a painless sore where bacteria entered the body; the sore can heal without treatment. Secondary syphilis may bring a widespread rash, including on the palms or soles, along with swollen glands, fever, or tiredness. In the latent stage, there may be no visible symptoms, but blood tests can still show infection. Later untreated infection can affect organs, blood vessels, the brain, nerves, eyes, or ears. These stages do not always follow a clearly noticed sequence, and symptoms alone cannot identify the stage.

Arrange STI Screening after a possible exposure, a compatible sore or rash, or contact with a partner who has syphilis. Tell the clinician about previous results and treatment, because this helps interpret testing. If diagnosed, take the recommended Antibiotic Treatment and attend follow-up. Avoid sexual contact until you receive specific advice, and help recent partners access assessment. Do not assume that a healed sore means the infection has gone.

Seek prompt review for a painless sore, unexplained rash, swollen glands, or known exposure. Urgent assessment is needed for vision change, hearing change, severe headache, confusion, weakness, numbness, or difficulty walking because these can signal involvement beyond the skin. Pregnancy or possible exposure during pregnancy warrants timely testing and treatment advice.

Ask which stage is suspected, which tests support that assessment, whether earlier treatment changes the interpretation, how long follow-up will take, and when partners should be assessed.