Syphilis Symptoms Singapore | HIV PEP
Syphilis Symptoms in Singapore: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterial infection. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications in men and women.
Symptoms of syphilis
The symptoms of syphilis are same for both sexes in each stage of the disease. However, in the initial stages, it may be difficult to notice or recognize the symptoms.
* In the first stage (primary syphilis)
- Presence of one or more painless sores (called chancres), which may appear anywhere on the body. Most commonly, they are on the cervix, anus, vulva or clitoris in women. In men, the chancre may appear on the penis, including on the foreskin or around the urethral opening, or on the anus.
- Sores can also appear on the buttocks, fingers, mouth, or throat.
* In the second stage (secondary syphilis)
If left untreated, the first stage can progress to the second stage within a few weeks. Some of the symptoms of secondary syphilis are:
- Appearance of painless rashes that spread all over the body, appearing even on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands.
- Patchy hair loss.
- Flu-like symptoms with swollen glands, fatigue, and lack of appetite.
- Wart-like growths on the vulva or around the anus.
- Whitish patches on the upper palate (roof of the mouth).
* Latent syphilis
The secondary stage will resolve on its own after a few weeks, but the disease is not gone from the body. If untreated, the next stage is called latent syphilis, in which there are few or no symptoms.
* Tertiary syphilis
It may take a decade or more to see the serious symptoms of tertiary syphilis. In this stage, the nervous system, heart, blood vessels, bones, and other organs may be affected. Some of the symptoms of tertiary syphilis are loss of coordination, stroke, deafness, paralysis, blindness, skin rashes, heart diseases, numbness, and dementia. These complications usually lead to fatal consequences if the disease is not treated.