Hi HN,
can you describe in detail of what are the symptoms of secondary stage syphilis? And what is the window period for blood test?
thanks!
Hi soulium
Symptoms of secondary syphilis.
Secondary stage
About 6 weeks after the syphilis bacteria enters the body (the primary lesion may still be present), a person may enter the secondary stage. The most common symptom is a rash all over the body, and sometimes on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. The rash is not usually itchy. It is commonly dry and noninfectious. Some people with secondary syphilis develop small lesions or ulcers around or in the mouth, on the penis, around the anus, inside the vagina or on its lips. These are painless and ooze clear fluid that is infectious. People with secondary syphilis often show lymph node enlargement in the neck, underarm and groin area. Some may develop symptoms such as fever, chills, weight loss, vision loss, and others. The secondary stage disappears by itself in about a month.
I cut and pasted this from our information on syphilis which is located at.
http://www.stiresource.com/disease/index.php?page=edit&id=4&action=viewfull
The only problem with syphilis symptoms is that we are finding that most people we see with syphilis do not get any symptoms at all.
The blood test we use to check for syphilis in Canada is called the RPR test. Every doctor’s office can order it but you may have to ask your doctor to get it. It can take up to 3 months for syphilis to show up on a blood test after catching it (window period) but we find most people would show up on a blood test by 6 weeks.
I would recommend getting a syphilis test when.
(1) As part of a regular STI check up.
(2) If you have an unknown body rash or open sores
HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.stiresource.com
www.bccdc.ca
