Syphilis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Syphilis, secondary on the palms

STDs and ecological niches

Syphilis

Alternative Names:

Lues
Symptoms:

The symptoms of syphilis depend on the stage of the disease. In addition, a significant proportion of individuals may remain without symptoms.

Primary syphilis:

chancres -- (usually single yet may be multiple) painless sores on genitals, rectum, or mouth
enlarged lymph nodes in the area adjacent to the chancre

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Secondary syphilis:

skin rash -- usually throughout the body with both flat and raised patches which may involve the palms and soles of the feet.
extensive lymph node enlargement
mucous patches (painless silvery ulcerations of mucous membranes -- seen mostly in the mouth and on the genitals)
condyloma lata: coalescing papules which form a grey-white plaque frequently in folds such as groin, genital areas, axilla, and under the breasts
hair loss (alopecia)
general symptoms such as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and aches and pains in bones

Tertiary syphilis:

infiltrative, destructive lesions of skin, bones, or liver (gummatous syphilis)
cardiovascular syphilis, which leads to inflammation of the aorta (aortitis) and can be associated with aortic aneurysms
central nervous system disorders with involvement of the meninges, brain, spinal cord, eye, or auditory system.

Signs and tests:

The proper diagnostic tests for syphilis depend on the stage of the disease and may include: dark field examination of primary lesion (in primary syphilis), and blood tests such as VDRL or RPR and FTA-ABS. In the case of neurosyphilis, a spinal tap is required to make the diagnosis and may be sent for VDRL and/or FTA-ABS.