Syphilis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Treatment varies with stage and involvement of the nervous system, eyes or ears. These complications can occur at different stages, so one fixed injection schedule is not suitable for everyone.

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An often painless ulcer may be followed by a rash, sometimes involving palms and soles, or enlarged lymph nodes. A latent phase has no symptoms; organ damage may develop later.

Treponema pallidum spreads through direct contact with an infectious lesion, usually during sexual contact, and can pass to a fetus during pregnancy. Symptoms alone cannot precisely date infection.

An infected partner, previous syphilis or another sexually transmitted infection increases exposure risk. Prior infection does not confer immunity; follow-up blood tests assess response and possible reinfection.

Diagnosis combines history, examination and two types of antibody tests. One test may remain positive after successful treatment; clinicians interpret it alongside previous therapy and quantitative results rather than assuming every positive means new infection.

Penicillin is central to care, with formulation, route and duration matched to the condition. Neurological, eye or ear disease needs specialist regimens. During pregnancy, penicillin is the proven treatment for fetal protection; allergy requires specialist management rather than self-substitution.

Untreated disease can cause neurological or cardiovascular injury, vision or hearing loss and harm to pregnancy or the newborn. Treatment stops progression but may not reverse advanced damage.

Reduce exposure and use condoms while recognizing that they do not cover all lesions. Attend antenatal screening. Partners need assessment and appropriate treatment, avoiding sexual contact until the treating team advises it is safe.