Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact.The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary). The primary stage classically presents with a single chancre (a firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration), secondary syphilis with a diffuse rash which frequently involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, latent syphilis with little to no symptoms, and tertiary syphilis with gummas, neurological, or cardiac symptoms. The incubation period is usally 10 days to 3 months. Shown here is a case of secondary syphilis. Secondary syphilis occurs approximately four to ten weeks after the primary infection. We see an enanthema of the mucous membranes, the mucosa and tongue show reddish papules and plaques, which are infectious.
