Third-stage syphilis has no symptoms.

Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
Updated on January 01, 2025
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Once tertiary syphilis has developed, it is highly unlikely for there to be no symptoms. Tertiary syphilis is a late stage of the disease, generally involving the skin, mucous membranes, cardiovascular system, and even the motor and nervous systems. If there are no symptoms present, it is generally not possible to be in the tertiary stage of syphilis. Therefore, if tertiary syphilis occurs, it will not be without symptoms.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can you still have children with third-stage syphilis?

Third-stage syphilis is the most severe stage of the disease, and it is not possible to have children if one has third-stage syphilis, because syphilis can be transmitted from mother to fetus. The infectivity is particularly strong during the third stage. If a child is conceived at this time, it could lead to stillbirth. Besides stillbirth, even if the child is born by chance, they may have abnormal development or be born with diseases. This is tremendously painful and tormenting for both the parent and child. Therefore, one cannot have children with third-stage syphilis.

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Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
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Is cervical lymphadenopathy related to syphilis?

Enlargement of cervical lymph nodes is somewhat related to syphilis. Although cervical lymph node enlargement is not necessarily solely caused by syphilis, if syphilis progresses to its secondary or tertiary stages, it tends to cause lymph node enlargement, and severe cases may even lead to ulceration. This happens because after a syphilis infection, immune responses in the lymph cells are triggered by the Treponema pallidum, leading to the enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, and also possibly the lymph nodes under the arms and in the groin area. In such cases, it is advised to seek timely medical attention, complete the necessary immunological testing, and ensure an accurate diagnosis of syphilis. If cervical lymph node enlargement occurs, prolonged treatment with penicillin should be administered, as it effectively controls the Treponema pallidum and can help reduce the severity of the lymph node enlargement.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can third-stage syphilis still be cured?

Third-stage syphilis can still possibly be cured, but this varies from person to person and is not absolute. Usually, when syphilis develops to the third stage, it indicates a more severe infection and is considered late-stage. Additionally, third-stage syphilis is particularly prone to causing cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal damages, which are complications. Therefore, treating third-stage syphilis is much more challenging compared to the first and second stages. It is crucial to treat and diagnose it early.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can third-stage syphilis be completely cured?

Whether tertiary syphilis can be completely cured depends on the specific conditions of different patients. If tertiary syphilis has not caused serious complications, then timely and standard syphilis treatment at this stage can potentially lead to a cure. However, if it has been a long time and the condition has been neglected, it might cause severe damage to tissue and organ functions and can be life-threatening. At this point, it cannot be completely cured; even using anti-inflammatory drugs to treat syphilis cannot reverse the complications and greatly affects the quality of life.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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How long does it take to cure third-stage syphilis?

The healing time for third-stage syphilis varies from person to person. Third-stage syphilis is considered a late stage of the disease, and the situation is very serious for patients who have developed to this stage. Therefore, the duration of illness for most patients is usually very long; it could be several months or even years, which also depends on the patient's level of aggressive treatment and their own immune resistance. Additionally, it is necessary to consider complications of third-stage syphilis. If there are severe complications involving cardiovascular and nervous systems, or joint damage, recovery can be very prolonged and difficult.