What are the symptoms of tertiary syphilis?

Written by Cui Lin Jing
Dermatology
Updated on April 01, 2025
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Tertiary syphilis mainly occurs two to three years, or even five to ten years or longer, after infection. The primary skin manifestations are gummas, which often occur on the extensor side of the lower legs, and can present as ulcerations, erosions, nodules, and hyperplasia. It may also involve bones, joints, the heart, and blood vessels. The main manifestations include aortitis, aortic valve insufficiency, and aortic aneurysms. When the nervous system is involved, it can present as spinal tuberculosis and general paralysis, which are symptoms of paralytic dementia. The diagnosis of tertiary syphilis requires serological tests and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The treatment involves primarily penicillin and benzathine penicillin, with erythromycin or tetracycline as alternatives for patients allergic to penicillin, and requires a longer course of treatment.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can third-stage syphilis be completely cured?

Whether tertiary syphilis can be completely cured depends on the specific conditions of different patients. If tertiary syphilis has not caused serious complications, then timely and standard syphilis treatment at this stage can potentially lead to a cure. However, if it has been a long time and the condition has been neglected, it might cause severe damage to tissue and organ functions and can be life-threatening. At this point, it cannot be completely cured; even using anti-inflammatory drugs to treat syphilis cannot reverse the complications and greatly affects the quality of life.

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Written by Luo Hong
Dermatology Department
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How long after the disappearance of a chancre does secondary syphilis occur?

Secondary syphilis generally occurs three to four weeks after the disappearance of the primary chancre, which means it often occurs 9 to 12 weeks after the infection by the Treponema pallidum. Of course, it is rare yet possible for it to appear simultaneously with the primary chancre. The main reason secondary syphilis develops is either due to untreated primary syphilis or incomplete treatment. The Treponema pallidum enters the bloodstream from the lymphatic system, causing bacteremia and spreading throughout the body, leading to systemic damage including skin and mucosal lesions, known as secondary syphilis. Common signs of secondary syphilis include erythema on the palms and soles, which is a characteristic manifestation. Another sign includes flat, moist warts around the anus and genital areas, similar to condyloma acuminatum, but these warts are flatter and less protruding.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can tertiary syphilis be contagious?

Third-stage syphilis is contagious. Although the titers in third-stage syphilis might be lower than those in the first and second stages, it still has the ability to infect others. Moreover, third-stage syphilis can easily lead to many complications, affecting other tissues and organs of the body. Therefore, third-stage syphilis is very serious. Once third-stage syphilis occurs, one must be particularly vigilant, seek timely treatment in a reputable hospital early, enhance their immunity, and avoid having a history of unprotected sexual activity.

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Written by Zhang Jian Bo
Dermatology
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What are the early symptoms of syphilis?

Syphilis is divided into overt and latent syphilis. Latent syphilis, regardless of whether it is early or late stage, shows no symptoms at all and can only be confirmed by blood testing. The symptoms in the early stage are mainly those of overt syphilis, primarily manifestations of primary syphilis. The stages of primary, secondary, and tertiary syphilis begin with the appearance of a lesion at the site of infection, typically about 0.5 to 1 centimeter in diameter, with a hard, dark red nodule that feels like cartilage. The surface may have ulcers; it may be painless, or there may be no pain at all. Subsequently, nearby lymph nodes may become enlarged. This swelling of the lymph nodes is characterized by being painless, usually unilateral, with no redness or rupture. These are the clear symptoms of overt primary syphilis. If treated properly at this stage, recovery is generally rapid.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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How long is the latency period for tertiary syphilis?

The latency period of tertiary syphilis is not clearly defined, but it is certain that once tertiary syphilis appears, the duration of illness in patients generally exceeds two to three years, meaning the latency period is at least two to three years long. Of course, some patients may reach five to ten years. This depends on each individual's resistance as well as the virulence and amount of the virus. Additionally, if one contracts tertiary syphilis, it is crucial to seek timely and proper treatment, as it may be life-threatening.