Ace the ADEX Dental Hygiene Exam 2026 – Sparkle Your Smile and Your Career!

The presence of a chancre is a hallmark of primary syphilis. During this initial stage of the infection, which typically occurs about three weeks after exposure to the Treponema pallidum bacteria, a single sore known as a chancre appears at the site where the bacteria entered the body. This sore is usually painless and can go unnoticed, leading to a lack of awareness about the infection. The chancre will typically heal on its own within a few weeks, even without treatment, but this does not eliminate the infection, and the bacteria can progress to the secondary stage if left untreated.

In contrast, secondary syphilis is marked by systemic symptoms, such as skin rashes and mucous membrane lesions, which are not present in primary syphilis. Tertiary syphilis involves severe complications that can affect the heart, brain, and other organs, occurring years after the initial infection if not treated. Congenital syphilis refers to the transmission of the infection from an infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy and is not characterized by the presence of a chancre.