Final answer:
Syphilis progresses through primary, secondary, and tertiary stages. The primary stage features a hard chancre, secondary stage includes rash and systemic symptoms, and the tertiary stage can result in severe organ damage and is potentially fatal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lesion Progression of Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that progresses through three main stages if left untreated: primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, and tertiary syphilis. The primary stage is characterized by a hard chancre that is firm, round, and painless. This generally appears at the site of infection, likely on the cervix, , or anus, within 10 to 90 days after transmission. The chancre lasts for 3 to 6 weeks and heals regardless of treatment, but syphilis remains in the body.
In the secondary stage, the bacteria spread throughout the body, manifesting as a rash on the skin and mucous membranes, and possibly fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. This stage is highly contagious and lasts 3 to 6 weeks. Following this, the disease may enter into a symptom-free latent stage, which can persist for years, and the infection can still be detected by blood tests.
If syphilis is not treated, it may progress to the tertiary stage, potentially 10 to 20 years after the initial infection. This final stage is very serious and can be fatal. It is characterized by granulomatous lesions called gummas, as well as severe complications such as cardiovascular syphilis, which can lead to aortic aneurysm or coronary stenosis, and neurosyphilis, which can present as dementia or seizures, among other symptoms.