The first symptoms that appear after the initial infection are known as primary symptoms. These include the following:
- sores or ulcers (known as chancres) on the mouth, anus, penis, vulva, vagina and cervix. These may be weepy and very painful
- swollen glands in the groin area.
These primary symptoms generally last around six weeks if left untreated. If the primary symptoms are untreated, secondary symptoms will start to appear a few weeks after primary symptoms have resolved. Secondary symptoms can last for a couple of weeks but can continue to reoccur for many years. They include:
- a non-itchy dark rash that often appears on the palms and soles of the feet
- a general feeling of unwell, with fever, tiredness and headaches
- growths on the genitals
- white patches on the inside of the mouth
- hair loss
- on rare occasions major organs like the liver, kidneys and brain can be affected.
Both primary and secondary syphilis are highly contagious.
If untreated, the symptoms of secondary syphilis may heal themselves and the individual may remain asymptomatic for many years. This is known as latent syphilis. Over time however, tertiary syphilis develops which can lead to serious damage to the major organs and body systems.