European guideline for the management of syphilis

Syphilis is classi® ed as acquired or congenital. Acquired syphilis is divided into early and late syphilis. Early syphilis: primary, secondary and early latent (Centers for Disease Control [CDC]: acquired 51 year previously1; World Health Organization [WHO]: acquired 52 years previously2). Late syphilis: late latent (CDC: acquired 51 year previously1; WHO: acquired 52 years previously2), tertiary, including gummatous, cardiovascular and neurosyphilis (the latter two are also sometimes classi® ed as quartenary syphilis). Congenital syphilis is divided into early (® rst 2 years of life) and late (apparent later in life), which includes the stigmata of congenital syphilis.