Syphilis-- Syphilis causes rashes and sores on the genitals and elsewhere, and can be transmitted through contact with these rashes or through sexual contact. Syphilis can take up to 3 months to be detected.  The symptoms of syphilis go through four stages as the bacteria that cause it spread and develop in the body. In the first stage, a chancre (a circular, painless and firm sore) might appear on the genitals anywhere from 9 to 90 days after infection. It can also appear elsewhere in the body. During the second stage, which occurs weeks to months after infection, rashes on the body may develop then disappear; joints may ache; fever and headache might occur. Rashes indicate that the microbes have traveled through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to every tissue and organ in the body. This can go on for years. Late in the progress of the disease there are no outward symptoms. In the end, syphilis can cause blindness, madness, and death. It can be treated at any time with antibiotics. How Common? Nearly 40,000 new cases were counted last year. Help: CDC National STD Hotline, 800-227-8922.