Beware of syphilis

The chancre usually appears about 3 weeks after you’re infected with the bacteria, but it can occur any time from 9 to 90 days after you have been infected. In 2006, 64% of the reported P&S syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men (MSM). Though anyone can get syphilis, your risk of contracting the disease increases if you have syphilis symptoms.

Syphilis is a reportable disease which means that your health care provider is required by law to notify local health of your case. Generally the person will have painless sores and swollen lymph nodes. In the first stage of the disease, the chancre usually heals without treatment in 1 to 5 weeks.