What Is It |
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An infection caused by small organisms, which can spread throughout the body. |
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How Many Get It |
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About 70,000 new cases a year. |
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Signs |
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In the first phase, a single sore (chancre) may appear on the genitals or mouth several weeks to 3 months after exposure, lasting for one to five weeks. Often, however, there are no noticeable symptoms. In the second stage, up to 10 weeks after the first sore has disappeared, a variety of symptoms can appear, including a rash (often on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or genital area). |
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How It's Spread |
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Through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex--and also through kissing if there is a lesion on the mouth. |
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Treatment |
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Antibiotic treatment can cure the disease if it's caught early, but medication can't undo damage already done. Both partners must be treated at the same time. |
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Possible Consequences |
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Increased risk for infection of other STDs, including HIV. Untreated, the symptoms will disappear, but the infection stays in the body and can progress into the third stage, damaging the brain, heart, and nervous system, and can cause death. Syphilis in women can seriously harm a developing fetus during pregnancy. |
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