When is the third stage of syphilis?

Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Tertiary syphilis is a relatively late stage of syphilis, often occurring two to three years after the initial detection of the disease. For patients with a longer course of the disease, it generally appears five to ten years later. Once tertiary syphilis is diagnosed, it is often accompanied by damage to various organ functions, such as the cardiovascular system, bones, skin, and nervous system. Therefore, it is crucial to detect and treat syphilis early and to follow standard treatment protocols with a doctor. Otherwise, once it progresses to tertiary syphilis, it becomes very difficult to cure.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can you still have children with third-stage syphilis?

Third-stage syphilis is the most severe stage of the disease, and it is not possible to have children if one has third-stage syphilis, because syphilis can be transmitted from mother to fetus. The infectivity is particularly strong during the third stage. If a child is conceived at this time, it could lead to stillbirth. Besides stillbirth, even if the child is born by chance, they may have abnormal development or be born with diseases. This is tremendously painful and tormenting for both the parent and child. Therefore, one cannot have children with third-stage syphilis.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can tertiary syphilis be transmitted?

Third-stage syphilis is contagious, but its infectivity is weaker compared to first-stage and second-stage syphilis. However, the damage caused by third-stage syphilis is very severe, often causing damage to tissues and organ functions. It can potentially cause disabilities, deformities, or even life-threatening conditions. Therefore, the characteristic of third-stage syphilis is its weak infectivity but strong damaging effects. Thus, it is crucial to take third-stage syphilis seriously and seek regular and timely treatment.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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What are the symptoms of syphilitic disease?

The symptoms of syphilitic disease are diverse, and syphilis is divided into early syphilis and late syphilis. In the early stages of syphilis, during the primary phase, it usually presents as a hard chancre on the genital area, without obvious pain. In secondary syphilis, it manifests as polymorphic roseola, usually appearing as patches of varying sizes on the trunk, covered with scales, with no significant itching. In tertiary or late syphilis, there can be damage to multiple systems including bones and nerves. Once syphilis is diagnosed, it is essential to treat it early. Early treatment generally leads to good outcomes, with most people recovering. If it progresses to late stages, treatment outcomes are relatively poor. The first choice of treatment for syphilis is long-acting penicillin.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is third-stage syphilis contagious?

Third-stage syphilis is infectious, but its contagiousness is relatively weak compared to first-stage and second-stage syphilis. The titers detected in third-stage syphilis are usually lower, so its infectiousness is comparatively minor. However, third-stage syphilis still has the capability to infect others. Therefore, patients with third-stage syphilis must actively seek treatment and refrain from having sexual relations with others, while also enhancing their own immunity.

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Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
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Is there a high possibility of syphilis with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes?

Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes generally suggest the possibility of syphilis, but such enlargement caused by syphilis commonly appears in the secondary or tertiary stages of the disease. In the early primary stage of syphilis, it is rare to see swollen inguinal lymph nodes; the symptoms are mostly seen on the external genitals, including soft and hard chancres. As syphilis progresses, it may gradually lead to swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes, including other superficial lymph nodes. However, enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes alone cannot conclusively determine that the cause is syphilis. Other conditions such as bacterial lymphadenitis, lymph node tuberculosis, or lymphoma could also cause swollen inguinal lymph nodes. Therefore, to diagnose whether it is caused by syphilis, it is crucial to consider the results of syphilis serological tests and specific pathological puncture findings.