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Syphilis - primary - Symptom

Alternative Names

Primary syphilis

Symptoms:

Primary syphilis symptoms include:

Chancre -- a small, painless open sore or ulcer on the genitals, mouth, skin, or rectum that should heal by itself in 3-6 weeks
Enlarged lymph nodes in the area containing the chancre

The bacteria continue to multiply in the body, but there is little outward evidence of disease until the second stage.

Signs and tests:

Dark field examination of fluid from sore
SerumRPR or serumVDRL (used as screening tests to detect syphilis infection -- if positive, one of the following tests will be needed to confirm the diagnosis:)
- FTA-ABS (fluorescent treponemal antibody test)
- MHA-TP

Primary syphilis

Male and female reproductive systems

Reviewed last on: 8/1/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Maternal & Child Health Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Syphilis Infection: Recommendation Statement. Ann Fam Med. 2004;2:362-365.

Tremont EC. Treponema pallidum (Syphilis). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005: chap 235.

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