The stage where the spirochete starts to invade the body is called primary syphilis. It starts where the infectious lesion had a direct contact, most likely in the penis, the labia and the uterine cervix. It can be observed from the medical history that first contact with an infected person would have been a week to 2 months ago. The characteristic lesion is typified by a chancre, the point of first exposure.



It will take an average of 21 days for the spirochete to develop, depending on different factors. The chancre starts to erode slightly and quickly develops into a painless surface wound. Inflammation of regional ganglions will be noticed though it will be isolated, mobile, and also painless.

Secondary syphilis is the period where the infection starts to spread, appearing after 7-10 weeks from first exposure and 2-3 weeks after the primary infection, wherein the microbes migrate from the ganglions in great numbers. There will be a resulting second incubation until skin ulcerations come out within 45 days from appearance of first signs and 60-70 days from first contact with infection.

The infection will sometimes cause fever. Any part of the body tissue can be affected and injured. In general, the lesions will develop in the teguments and mucous membranes. The lesions will appear like rashes caused by a viral disease, however lesions will be pustule-like elements.

Syphilis will repeatedly occur if not properly detected and treated. The infection will unfavourably progress to secondary syphilis from 3 to 9 months after being treated. Serologic relapses are happening but will not give out any clinical indications. If ever, skin and mucous membrane lesions will develop, bones will be affected, sore eyes will develop and neurological and visceral symptoms will appear.

Latent syphilis presents a calm stage from a medical point of view as the syphilis infection has been already diagnosed but does not produce any obvious symptoms. During this period, there can be a relapse of secondary syphilis or if still not treated, may progress to the tertiary stage.

At this stage, proof of infection has been clearly diagnosed from the blood tests; the LCR exam is negative; radiological exams and ECG will reveal cardiovascular damage.

The third stage of the infection or tertiary syphilis can emerge even after years of latency. At the late latency stage, lesions might appear perhaps as an allergic reaction of the tissue to Treponema Palladium, affecting tissues of the skin and the mucous membranes. Small lesions can develop and become nodules. The mucous membranes can also develop tubercles and lesions.

An infected mother can pass on the infection to her baby through the fetus placenta flow, thus the baby will be born with congenital syphilis. The father cannot transmit it to the baby if the mother is not infected.

If the baby has the precocious congenital syphilis type, it will develop symptoms as soon as the baby is born or two years after. Blisters and sometimes ulcerations will be the indications.

Late congenital syphilis happens two years from birth. Lesions will appear, which is an indication that the disease has already progressed to the third stage.