What are the symptoms of syphilis?
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Symptoms of Syphilis: A Comprehensive Overview
Primary Syphilis Symptoms: Painless Chancre and Lymphadenopathy
Primary syphilis typically begins with a solitary, painless chancre at the site of infection. This ulcer is firm and indurated, often accompanied by regional lymph node swelling2 3 8. The chancre usually appears about three weeks after exposure and heals spontaneously within a few weeks, even without treatment8.
Secondary Syphilis Symptoms: Rash, Fever, and Systemic Manifestations
Secondary syphilis occurs several weeks to months after the primary infection and is characterized by a wide array of symptoms. The most common manifestations include a polymorphic rash, which often involves the palms and soles, and generalized lymphadenopathy1 2 3 9. Other frequent symptoms are fever, malaise, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and mucocutaneous lesions such as condyloma lata1 2 3 9. Less common symptoms include pruritus, visual disturbances, and loss of scalp hair1.
Latent Syphilis: Asymptomatic Phase
Latent syphilis is divided into early and late stages, during which the infection is asymptomatic and detectable only through serologic testing2 3. This phase can last for years, and although there are no clinical symptoms, the disease can still be transmitted during the early latent stage3.
Tertiary Syphilis: Severe and Destructive Symptoms
Tertiary syphilis can develop years after the initial infection and is marked by severe complications. This stage includes gummatous lesions, cardiovascular syphilis, and neurosyphilis, which can affect any organ system2 3 8. Symptoms of neurosyphilis may include ocular and auditory abnormalities, headache, paraesthesia, vertigo, facial paresis, motor weakness, and unexplained pain in the legs4 7.
Neurosyphilis: Central Nervous System Involvement
Neurosyphilis can occur at any stage of syphilis and presents with a variety of neurological symptoms. These may include meningitis, cranial nerve abnormalities, cerebrovascular accidents, and other central nervous system issues2 4 7 10. In HIV-infected individuals, neurosyphilis is more common and may present with more severe symptoms4 10.
Oral Manifestations of Syphilis
Oral manifestations are particularly challenging for diagnosis and can include subacute erosive or ulcerative lesions, mucous patches on the tongue, nodular lesions, and leukokeratotic lesions6. These symptoms are often seen in secondary syphilis and can be isolated, making diagnosis difficult6.
Conclusion
Syphilis presents with a wide range of symptoms that vary depending on the stage of the disease. Primary syphilis is marked by a painless chancre and lymphadenopathy, while secondary syphilis includes systemic symptoms such as rash, fever, and mucocutaneous lesions. Latent syphilis is asymptomatic, and tertiary syphilis can lead to severe complications affecting multiple organ systems. Neurosyphilis can occur at any stage and presents with various neurological symptoms. Understanding these symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
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The Signs and Symptoms of Secondary Syphilis
Secondary syphilis symptoms include pruritus, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fever, meningismus, loss of appetite, weight loss, and visual disturbances.
Observational Study
Highly CitedDiagnosis and management of syphilis.
Syphilis diagnosis and treatment involve a nontreponemal test and a treponemal-specific test, with penicillin G being the first-line therapy for all stages.
Highly CitedSyphilis: Review with Emphasis on Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Some Biologic Features
Syphilis is a chronic disease caused by Treponema pallidum, with various stages and varying incidence worldwide, and penicillin remains the mainstay of therapy.
Highly CitedSyphilitic hepatitis and neurosyphilis: an observational study of Danish HIV-infected individuals during a 13-year period
Syphilis should be considered a diagnosis in sexually active HIV-infected individuals, as neurosyphilis and syphilitic hepatitis can cause neurological symptoms and require different treatments.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalSyphilis—Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment
Syphilis begins with superficial lesions and progresses to deeper and more serious manifestations, often without causing symptoms for some time.
Oral forms of secondary syphilis, an illustration of the pitfalls set by the great imitator.
Oral presentations of secondary syphilis are common and challenging for diagnosis, even in patients with epidemiological risk factors.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalPainful rash with hoarseness: an atypical presentation of syphilis
Intravenous penicillin G effectively resolved painful anogenital lesions and improved dermatological, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and neurological symptoms in a 53-year-old woman with atypical syphilis presentation.
Case Report[Syphilis. Clinical aspects of Treponema pallidum infection].
Syphilis can be cured completely, except for tissue destruction prior to therapy, in all stages except for metasyphilis.
Oral Secondary Syphilis
Secondary syphilis develops in 25% of patients infected with Treponema pallidum, causing systemic symptoms, fever, and maculopapular rash.
Effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the course of syphilis and on the response to treatment.
HIV infection increases the frequency of early neurosyphilis and reduces the response to penicillin, requiring intensive therapy and follow-up observation.
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