How long does Syphilis last?

The natural history of untreated syphilis can be divided into 4 stages: primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. The primary stage is characterized by a chancre, which is a firm, round, painless sore at the site of inoculation. The chancre usually appears 10 to 90 days (average 3 weeks) after exposure and lasts for 2 to 6 weeks. The secondary stage is characterized by a systemic rash, which usually appears 4 to 10 weeks (average 6 weeks) after the chancre appears. The rash may be accompanied by fever, chills, headache, and sore throat. The latent stage is a period during which there are no symptoms of the disease. The duration of the latent stage varies, but it can last for years or even decades. The tertiary stage is characterized by severe damage to the heart, brain, eyes, and other organs. The tertiary stage can occur 10 to 30 years after the initial infection.