Syphilis Summary Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. It infects the genital area, lips, mouth, or anus of both men and women. You usually get syphilis from sexual contact with someone who has it. It can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy. The early stage of syphilis usually causes a single, small, painless sore. Sometimes it causes swelling in nearby lymph nodes. If you do not treat it, syphilis usually causes a non-itchy skin rash, often on your hands and feet. Many people do not notice symptoms for years. Symptoms can go away and come back. The sores caused by syphilis make it easier to get or give someone HIV during sex. If you are pregnant, syphilis can cause birth defects, or you could lose your baby. In rare cases, syphilis causes serious health problems and even death. Syphilis is easy to cure with antibiotics if you catch it early. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading syphilis. NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Find an Expert Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Syphilis National Institutes of Health Patient Handouts Condom Fact Sheet in Brief Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Syphilis and MSM (Men Who Have Sex with Men) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Array Congenital syphilis CSF-VDRL test FTA-ABS test Neurosyphilis RPR test Syphilis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Syphilis – primary VDRL test Encyclopedia General paresis Gumma Interstitial keratitis Syphilitic aseptic meningitis Syphilitic myelopathy Prevention and Risk Factors Male Condoms Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Statistics and Research NCHHSTP Atlas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance, 2012: Syphilis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Syphilis Profiles, 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Related Issues Neurosyphilis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Women Pregnancy Complications: Syphilis March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Syphilis Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Images Primary Syphilis Logical Images Journal Articles Syphilis Start Here Syphilis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Syphilis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Teenagers Syphilis Children’s Hospital Boston Syphilis Nemours Foundation Children Syphilis American Academy of Pediatrics Syphilis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Men Syphilis and MSM (Men Who Have Sex with Men) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diagnosis and Tests Syphilis Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Specifics Tabes Dorsalis National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
