Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) A Practice Exam

What type of infection is NOT characterized within early syphilis?

1. Primary stage

2. Secondary stage

3. Late latent stage

4. Early latent stage

The correct answer is: Late latent stage

The late latent stage of syphilis is not characterized within early syphilis. Early syphilis generally encompasses the primary and secondary stages as well as the early latent stage. In the primary stage, a person typically presents with a painless sore called a chancre at the site of infection. The secondary stage is marked by systemic manifestations, such as skin rashes and mucous membrane lesions, often occurring weeks after the initial chancre appears. The early latent stage refers to the period following the secondary stage where the individual is asymptomatic but still harboring the bacteria, typically lasting up to one year after primary or secondary infection. In contrast, the late latent stage occurs after the early latent stage and typically refers to infections that are more than one year old, during which the individual may remain without symptoms. This stage also carries a risk for potential progression to tertiary syphilis, which includes more severe complications affecting various organ systems. Understanding these stages is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment of syphilis, particularly in a clinical setting.