Babies can be born with syphilis as they can catch the disease from their mothers in the womb. Many of the cases of syphilis seen in the UK are contracted in these countries. The first stage of syphilis is contagious and occurs 3-6 days after contact.
Lesions show where the skin has been in contact with the bacteria.
Lesions can also be found in the rectum after anal sex or in the mouth after oral sex. The lesions will usually disappear after a few weeks. The second stage is contagious and occurs around 6 weeks or more after the chancre appears. The symptoms disappear but may return at any time. The third stage of syphilis is non-contagious and may appear years after stages one and two.