Entry 15: 26/7/08

I shall now continue.

In most women, an early infection resolves on its own, even without treatment. However, 25%, or a quarter of all cases, will proceed to the second stage of the infection called "secondary" Syphilis, which develops weeks to months after the primary stage, lasting from four to six weeks. Secondary Syphilis is a systemic stage of the disease, meaning that it can involve various organ systems of the body. In this stage, patients can initially experience many different symptoms, but most commonly they develop a skin rash, typically appearing on the palms of the hands or the bottoms of the feet, that does not itch. Sometimes the skin rash of secondary syphilis is very faint and hard to recognize; it may not even be noticed in all cases. This secondary stage can also include hair loss, sore throat, white patches in the nose, mouth, and vagina, fever, and headaches. There can be lesions on the genitals that look like genital warts,but are actually caused by spirochetes rather than the wart virus. These wart like lesions, as well as the skin rash, are highly contagious. The rash can occur on the palms of the hands, and the infection can be transmitted by casual contact.

Subsequent to secondary Syphilis, some patients will continue to carry the infection in their body without symptoms. This is the so-called latent stage of the infection. Then, with or without a latent stage, which can last as long as 20 or more years, the third, or tertiary stage of the disease can develop.

I will continue in my next post about the 3rd stage of Syphilis.

Sources:
http://www.medicinenet.com/sexually_transmitted_diseases_stds_in_women/page3.htm

Glossary:
Lesion: A lesion is any abnormal tissue found on or in an organism, usually damaged by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.

Tertiary: Of the third order, rank, stage, formation, etc.; third.