Syphilis is a problematic infection that can be passed on from one individual to another through sexual contact. Syphilis can also be transmitted if a person touches the blood or syphilis sores of an infected person. Syphilis progresses in several stages and if treatment is not administered early enough the infection can spread from the sore into the patient’s blood.

The symptoms of this condition are characterized by the appearance of syphilis sores. The syphilis sores can be observed in the regions near the vagina, penis or the anus as well. In many cases patients get the sores in the regions near the mouth as well. The first stage in syphilis is observed around 10 days to 3 months following the initial exposure to this infection.

In many cases the syphilis sores are the first symptoms of this condition and it starts off with a single sore that may appear inside the vagina or on the penis. This sore may not be noticed because in many cases the sore does not hurt and may go away in around 3 to 6 weeks. Once the infection moves into the second stage it can result in a number of problems.

In the second stage following the syphilis sores the patients may experience a rash that is normally reddish brown. This rash may occur on the hands and soles of individuals and such a rash may occur around 2 to 10 weeks following the appearance of sores. Other symptoms that follow the rash and sores include fever, body aches and swelling in the lymph nodes.

To prevent the infection from spreading it is advisable to keep the syphilis sores covered with bandage. Syphilis can also be passed by a pregnant woman to the newborn child particularly if the sores are present and the delivery is a normal one. A blood test can be helpful in detecting this condition.

Another way to identify this infection is to test a sample of the syphilis sores. A doctor may also check the spinal fluid to detect whether the syphilis bacteria have spread to the nervous system. Penicillin is used for treatment of this condition.