The Secondary Stage of Syphilis

Question

The secondary stage of syphilis
A)is when the patient is no longer infectious to others.
B)occurs within 10 days of the primary stage.
C)is a time when the pathogen enters and multiplies in the blood.
D)has no symptoms.
E)is when gummas develop in tissues.

Accepted Answer

During the secondary stage of syphilis, the Treponema pallidum bacterium enters and multiplies in the bloodstream, leading to a wider dissemination across the body and potentially causing symptoms such as rashes, fever, sore throat, and muscle aches. It typically occurs about 2-8 weeks after the initial infection, and the patient remains contagious to others during this period. However, by the end of the secondary stage, the risk of transmission decreases significantly. Gummas, on the other hand, are characteristic lesions that form in the tertiary stage of syphilis, which can occur years or even decades after the initial infection.