Syphilis, a bacterial infection, can be transmitted through sexual contact. In instances where children are infected with syphilis, the infection can result from sexual violence or transmission from an infected mother to her unborn baby.

Syphilis is generally divided into four stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Each stage presents distinct signs and symptoms. What are the specific signs and symptoms of syphilis in children?

Primary syphilis

The initial indication of syphilis is the development of ulcers or small sores at the entry points of bacteria into the body, such as the genitals, mouth, or anus. These sores are typically circular and firm in texture. They can appear about three weeks after exposure to syphilis, and a person may have one or more ulcers. In some cases, individuals may not notice these sores because they are not painful and usually heal on their own within 3–6 weeks.

However, the disappearance of these sores does not signify the resolution of syphilis, particularly if no treatment is received. The absence of symptoms in the initial stage suggests that the infection is progressing to a later stage.

Secondary syphilis

The second stage of syphilis occurs about several weeks after the sores from primary syphilis disappear. In this secondary stage, a new syphilis rash appears in the genital or oral area, which can spread throughout the body, palms, and feet. The secondary stage can last for 1–6 months.

Unitchy rash that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• The appearance of wounds, such as warts
• Muscle pain
• Weight loss
• Headache
• Hair loss
• Swollen lymph nodes

These symptoms usually go away within a few weeks but come and go over the course of a year. The symptoms will get worse and develop into the next stage, namely the latent stage.

Laten syphilis

Without treatment, syphilis will progress to the latent stage. At this stage, the infection can last up to 20 years and is hidden, so you may experience no symptoms at all. At this stage, symptoms may not reappear, or the disease may continue to progress to the next stage.

Tertiary syphilis

At this advanced stage, some people may experience slowly developing health problems, including:

• Brain damage
• Dementia
• Other cognitive impairments
• Heart disease
• Disorders of body movement and body muscles
• Nerve damage
• Seizure
• Visual impairment, including blindness

Most babies are infected with syphilis due to infection from the mother while in the womb or during labor. It is best when the baby is born. If it is known that the mother is positive for syphilis, the baby will immediately receive screening so he can receive treatment as early as possible.

Syphilis can be treated with certain antibiotics so that it does not develop into the next stage of syphilis. When appropriate treatment is given, the symptoms—the sores that appear—will disappear immediately. After treatment is given, blood tests are still needed to ensure that the infection has completely healed.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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