Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum. Syphilis most commonly spreads through sexual contact. Syphilis less commonly spread through direct contact with lesions or through childbirth. Syphilis develops in stages. The first sign of syphilis is a small sore called chancre. This stage forms primary syphilis. Within a few weeks of the original chancre healing, secondary syphilis develops. It may be characterized by generalized symptoms like rash, hair loss, muscle aches, fever, sore throat, and swollen nodes If not treated, secondary syphilis may turn into latent stage with no symptoms. Sometimes, latent stage progresses to tertiary syphilis which affects brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones, and joints
