This test may also be useful during the secondary phase. Secondary syphilis frequently presents with a diffuse rash and swollen lymph nodes. Your physician will also ask you about the progression of the rash. Your accurate and descriptive answers are very important. Lesions on the palms and soles of the feet make a diagnosis of syphilis more likely.
Blood testing is the cornerstone of diagnosis during the secondary phase.
The physician will usually order 1 of the following tests. All 3 help diagnose a syphilis infection. During the tertiary phase, the physician may need to obtain a sample of your spinal fluid to check for infection and the success of treatment. During the primary, secondary, and early latent phases of syphilis, a single injection of penicillin cures the disease. A pregnant women with syphilis must have penicillin, even if she is allergic to it.