Pregnant people and their sexual partners
The first symptoms of syphilis don't last long and some people don't have any symptoms, so it is possible for a person to have syphilis without knowing and pass it onto others.
Primary stage
Syphilis can cause people to get an ulcer or sore around their genitals or mouth, 3–12 weeks after infection. The sore can be any size or shape, is usually painless and doesn’t bleed. Even without treatment, the sore heals and disappears after a few weeks, but you are still infected. The syphilis bacteria are in the bloodstream and spread around the body.
Secondary stage
If left untreated, 2 to 6 months after getting infected, people can develop a rash (on the face, palms and soles of the feet), swollen glands, warts or lumps (around genitals, anus, mouth), and hair loss lasting weeks to months.
Latent and tertiary stages
Without treatment, the latent stage is where there are no physical symptoms but you are still able to transmit syphilis to your unborn baby.
If someone has untreated syphilis for longer than 2 years it can progress to the tertiary stage which affects the brain, heart, large blood vessels, the spinal cord, skin and bones. This can lead to permanent physical and intellectual disability, and death.
Babies
Congenital syphilis can damage the baby’s vital organs including the liver, brain, spinal cord and skin (rashes, warts or lumps). It can also affect bone and muscle development.
