SYPHILIS IS SPREADING.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. New syphilis infections are at record highs. Cases are continuing to rise in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. This trend is primarily among gay and bi men who account for 72% of new infections in the area. There are also increases in syphilis infections among women and newborns. Currently, reported syphilis cases are low (less than 1%) among transgender and non-binary people.
More Facts – Public Health-Seattle & King County
GET TESTED. GET CURED.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms of syphilis can be easy to miss or mistake for something else. Even if you don’t notice symptoms, or if the symptoms go away on their own, you can still have syphilis. Regular STD testing can help catch syphilis before it gets too serious.
Different stages, different symptoms. Syphilis goes through four stages if left untreated. Symptoms may start mild but can progress to vision problems, brain damage, and even death. It’s important to be aware of what each stage looks like so you can get treated early!

Primary Syphilis
Painless sore: The first symptom of syphilis is a raised, open sore called a chancre. It usually shows up on the penis, vagina, anus, or mouth 1-3 weeks after exposure, but can take up to 90 days (3 months) to appear. The sore is painless and goes away by itself after several weeks. But don’t ignore it! Even if the sore goes away, syphilis is still in your body. Be sure to get treated as soon as you notice it!
Vision problems: Problems like blurry vision, spots that float through your vision, flashing lights, and eye pain can also start at this stage.
Without treatment, your infection will progress to Secondary Syphilis.

Secondary Syphilis
Spotted rash: This stage usually starts with a reddish-brown, spotted rash. The rash most commonly appears on the palms of the hands or bottoms of the feet. But it can also appear on other parts of your body like the chest or back. The rash can be very subtle, and it usually does not itch. The rash can appear as the chancre is healing, or many weeks after the chancre has gone away. It may come and go for up to two years.
Additional symptoms: Large, raised, gray or white skin growths, known as condyloma lata, may develop in warm, moist areas such as the underarm, groin, penis, vagina, anus, or mouth. Other symptoms at this stage may include swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, patchy hair loss, weight loss, and headache. These symptoms usually last 2-6 weeks and will clear up on their own.
Vision problems: Eye and vision problems can also happen at this stage.
Just like with the sores, when the rash goes away, it does not mean that the syphilis has gone away. Without treatment, it will remain in your body and progress to Latent Syphilis.

Latent Syphilis
No symptoms: This stage begins when symptoms of secondary syphilis go away. During latent syphilis, there are no signs or symptoms, and the infection can only be detected through a blood test. A relapse to secondary syphilis can occur during the first few years of latency. Latent syphilis is not associated with physical symptoms. But neurological issues such as vision problems can happen at this stage. Untreated latent syphilis can affect your body and health for life. It may also progress to Tertiary (or Late) Syphilis.

Tertiary (Late) Syphilis
Organ damage: About 33% of people who don’t get treated for their syphilis infection suffer serious damage to the brain, nervous system, heart, or other organs. Late syphilis can also cause paralysis, dementia, vision loss, deafness, and heart failure.
Death: Yes, syphilis can lead to death if left untreated.
Late Syphilis can still be cured, which can prevent further damage to your body or death. However, treatment cannot repair or reverse damage that has already occurred. So, it’s important to get tested and treated for syphilis as soon as possible.
GET TESTED.
If you’re sexually active, make syphilis testing part of your routine just like testing for HIV and other STDs.
Where can I get tested?
Get tested if you think you might have syphilis. Visit your doctor or one of the HIV/STD community-testing locations listed below. Cost varies.
King County
Testing Site Links | HIV | STD |
---|---|---|
Center for Multicultural Health |
✔ |
|
Entre Hermanos |
✔ |
✔ |
Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center |
✔ |
✔ |
Lifelong |
✔ |
✔ |
Out of the Closet |
✔ |
|
Planned Parenthood |
✔ |
✔ |
POCAAN |
✔ |
✔ |
Public Health – Seattle & King County Sexual Health Clinic at Harborview |
✔ |
✔ |
UTOPIA |
✔ |
✔ |
Pierce County
Testing Site Links | HIV | STD |
---|---|---|
Cedar River Clinics |
✔ |
✔ |
Community Health Care – Downtown |
✔ |
✔ |
Community Health Care – Eastside |
✔ |
✔ |
Planned Parenthood – Puyallup |
✔ |
✔ |
Planned Parenthood – Tacoma |
✔ |
✔ |
Sea Mar Community Health Centers |
✔ |
✔ |
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department |
✔ |
✔ |
Snohomish County
Testing Site Links | HIV | STD |
---|---|---|
Lifelong |
✔ |
|
Planned Parenthood |
✔ |
✔ |
Snohomish Health District – Everett |
✔ |
✔ |
The Everett Clinic |
✔ |
✔ |
GET CURED.
There is a cure for syphilis! The sooner you seek treatment the easier it is to cure. Delaying treatment can result in serious health conditions. Those conditions are heart failure, dementia, deafness, vision loss, and even death. So, get tested and treated right away if you think you might have syphilis.
If you have syphilis, avoid having sex until you are cured. Tell your sex partners so they can also get tested and cured. Do not have sex with a partner who has syphilis until they are cured.
Can I get syphilis again after I’ve been cured?
Yes. Having syphilis once does not give you immunity from getting it again. If your partners have not been cured, they can re-infect you.