Symptoms:

• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Irritability
• Poor concentration
• Mental confusion
• Depression
• Visual disturbances
• Abnormal reflexes
• Abnormal gait (walk)
• Incontinence
• Dementia
• Weakness, numbness of lower extremities
• Loss of muscle function
• Muscle contractions
• Muscle atrophy

Signs and tests:

Blood tests can be done to detect substances produced by the bacteria that causes syphilis. The oldest test is the VDRL test.

In neurosyphilis, it is important to test the spinal fluid for signs of syphilis. Tests to look for problems with the nervous system may include:

• Lumbar puncture and a CSF fluid analysis
• Cranial CT scan
• MRI scan of the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord
• Cerebral angiogram