Syphilis – What you need to know

What is Syphilis?

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that spreads through sex. It can be cured with antibiotics. Without treatment, syphilis can lead to serious health problems throughout the body:

• The brain and nervous system (neurosyphilis)
• The eye (ocular syphilis)
• The ear (otosyphilis)
• Your unborn baby

You can have syphilis for years without knowing. The infection starts with symptoms that often go unnoticed.

Symptoms

• Painless sores to the vagina, mouth, penis, or rectum
  
• Rash on your abdomen, palms, or bottom of your feet
  
• Wart-like bumps on genitals (goes away over time, even without treatment)
  

• Swollen lymph nodes
  
• Low-grade fever
  
• Muscle or joint pain
  
• Patchy hair loss
  
• Changes to vision or hearing

How it spreads

Syphilis starts as a painless sore and can spread through sexual contact during sex. Syphilis is most infectious when a sore or rash is present and can be transmitted through:

• Vaginal sex
• Anal sex
• Oral sex

Anyone who is pregnant can also pass syphilis to their baby during pregnancy, even if they have no symptoms. This is called congenital syphilis (CS).

What is congenital syphilis?

Congenital syphilis (CS) happens when syphilis passes to the baby during pregnancy. CS can have major health impacts on an unborn baby. How CS affects the baby's health depends on how long the pregnant person has had syphilis and if and when they got treatment for the infection.

Congenital syphilis can cause:

• Miscarriage (losing the baby during pregnancy)
• Stillbirth (a baby who dies before birth)
• Prematurity (a baby born early)
• Low birth weight
• Death shortly after birth

Babies born with CS can have:

• Abnormal bones
• Severe anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Large liver and spleen
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Brain and nerve problems, like blindness or deafness
• Infection in the spinal fluid
• Skin rashes

Early symptoms, like a sore or rash, will eventually go away on their own, even without treatment. When symptoms disappear, you remain infected, and getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you and/or your partner have syphilis.

What does testing look like

Usually, your healthcare provider will take a blood sample to test you for syphilis. Tests are confidential. If you test positive for syphilis, your healthcare provider will work with you on steps for treatment. Getting the care you and your baby need following an infection can prevent both of you from developing serious health problems.

It’s also important to get your partner(s) tested, since reinfection can take place even after you have been successfully treated. You can be infected with syphilis more than once.

Everyone deserves a healthy pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, ask your doctor or healthcare provider about syphilis testing during:

• Your first prenatal visit
• 28-32 weeks of your pregnancy
• At the time of delivery

You can also find clinic information on our STI page.

Syphilis data

In 2014, Oregon recorded two cases of congenital syphilis. In 2024, that number was 45 — a staggering 2,150% increase. Find more specific data using Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) data dashboards below:

Syphilis

Congenital Syphilis

Public resources

Infographics

Downloadable messaging campaign materials - 2025

Washington County Public Health (WCPH) encourages others to use and share these visual materials as they are to promote awareness of syphilis and congenital syphilis. If you would like to adapt or modify the content for your organization’s needs, please reach out to the WCPH communications coordinator at [email protected] to request permission, and they will follow up with you promptly.

Links

• TellYourPartner.org - Anonymously text/email a sexual partner that they might be at risk of an STI
• Find no-cost maternal, child and family services online - available from pregnancy through your baby’s childhood.