Syphilis is an infectious disease which is caused by the treponema pallidum bacteria. This infection occurs when the bacteria enters the body through the mucous membranes or through broken skin. Transmission of these bacteria occurs by sexual and direct contact with infected areas. Sexual contact may include oral, vaginal and anal sex with an infected person. Syphilis develops in stages and the three stages of the infection are primary syphilis, secondary and tertiary syphilis.

Syphilis has certain symptoms and in primary syphilis patients often get a painless and open sore or ulcer in certain regions. This ulcer develops around 10 to 90 days after an initial exposure. The areas where the chancre or the ulcer is seen include genital regions, skin, mouth and the rectum. In many cases only one ulcer or chancre is observed. This ulcer normally heals on its own in 3 to 6 weeks. Along with this ulcer patients may experience enlarged lymph nodes.

As the ulcer tends to heal on its own many patients do not seek medical help for it. In primary syphilis the bacteria multiply within the body even though there may be no outward evidence of the disease. This infection can not only be transmitted from one person to another through direct and sexual contact but it can also be transferred from an infected mother to the newborn child. However this infection cannot be transmitted through sharing of utensils, clothing, through daily activities and toilet seats.

Diagnosis of primary syphilis is extremely important since lack of treatment can result in complications. In these complications damage may be caused to the heart and nervous system and such damage can even be fatal. The initial lesion or ulcer is normally seen on scrotum or penis of as many as 70% of men suffering from this condition. Among women the ulcer is seen in cervix, perineum or vulva regions. The lesion in primary syphilis is extremely infectious and these exude serum that contains the organisms. The chancres or lesions have a consistency similar to a cartilage and are button like.