Secondary syphilis
Secondary syphilis is the second stage of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis. This stage is the most contagious.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Syphilis has three main stages:
This article focuses on secondary syphilis.
About a third of untreated individuals with primary syphilis will develop secondary syphilis. This usually occurs at about 2 to 8 weeks after the appearance of the original painless sore (chancre). Sometimes, the sore may still be present.
In secondary syphilis, the bacteria has spread into the bloodstream.
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