To find out if you have syphilis the doctor must do a blood test. Syphilis is easily treated with penicillin. However, left untreated, syphilis is a deadly disease, and can kill a person years after infection. The first sign of syphilis is often a sore that doesn't hurt and that goes away even if you don't take any medicine. This sore is called a chancre. It usually appears on the penis, vagina, or rectum. Syphilis is most easily spread when someone has a chancre.

There is usually only one chancre, but sometimes there are more. The chancre is usually round. It often looks like several layers of skin are missing. Women who don't get treated for syphilis can give it to their unborn babies. Often these babies are born dead or have brain damage!

• Losing patches of hair
• Losing eyebrows
• A rash on the body (anywhere on the body)

A rash on the bottom of the feet or the palms of the hands are another symptom of syphilis. You can not get syphilis by touching this rash, unless there are open sores.

Most men and women will go through a period of time when they don't have any signs of syphilis. They don't feel sick, BUT they still have syphilis. This can happen after the chancre has gone away, but before the rash appears. This can also happen after the rash goes away or their hair starts growing back.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are both bacteria and easily treated. The symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia are very similar. Men and women often complain of a discharge, frequent urination, or burning when they urinate. In gonorrhea the discharge is often white, in chlamydia the discharge is usually clear. Very often people may not have any symptoms! Both gonorrhea and chlamydia are spread by coming in contact with the discharge. If a woman is not treated for either of these diseases, it could lead to a severe infection in her reproductive organs which could cause infertility.

Symptoms of Genital Warts

The scabies mite can be transmitted during sex, or close physical contact with a friend or family member. They burrow under the skin and cause severe itching. This can produce sores.

Scabies is easily treated with a special cream and by washing all clothes and bedding.

Herpes is caused by a virus. There are two types, Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and Herpes Simplex Virus-2. You can get both types by having sex. The symptom of both types of herpes is a group of small sores or blisters that hurt. Sometimes the sores cannot be seen. Herpes is usually spread by coming in contact with the sores. Sometimes herpes can be spread even when the sores are gone. Medicine can be given to make the sores go away faster, but the person will have the virus the rest of their life.

The picture on the left-hand side is an example of someone with anal herpes lesions. Sometimes a person will have an outbreak of sores on a regular basis.

1. Call the Centers for Disease Control. You can call the CDC 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-342-AIDS (2437) (the International number is 1-301-217-0023).

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