Primary Syphilis  Information for adults

Primary syphilis is a disease caused by a corkscrew-shaped bacterium (a spirochete) called Treponema pallidum. It causes disease when it penetrates broken skin of the genitals or the mucous membranes of the mouth or anus. Primary syphilis is usually passed on to others through sexual contact, but other ways are possible (for example, from an infected mother to her newborn baby). There are 3 stages of infection, and it is important to recognize infection in the first (primary) stage, as this stage will heal without therapy. If the infection is not treated early, it will then continue and often goes on to damage the nervous system and the heart, leading to early death.

Syphilis can be completely cured if treated early. Healed infection leaves no immunity, so you can get infected again.