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Syphilis is a bacterial infection that may enter the body from an infected person to another through broken skin or linings in the genital areas. Usually, the infected person will have sores that may come into contact with another person, which causes the spread of the bacteria.

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The pathogen that causes syphilis is known as Treponema pallidum.

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Symptoms of syphilis are very similar in both male and females.

These symptoms may include:

fever

fatigue

swollen glands

hair loss

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syphilis rash on palms of hands, and soles of feet

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The most obvious symptoms are the skin rashes, and sores, often referred to as mucous patches. The skin rashes may spread onto various parts of the body, but more commonly they will appear on the palms of hands, and soles of feet. The mucous patches typically appear around the genital area, or the mouth area.

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This image shows the stages of the effects of syphilis. The long term effects are usually referred to as stage three as shown above.  

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Long term effects are more commonly going to occur in an infected person who did not receive proper treatment or any treatment at all.

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These long term effects may include heart problems such as:

angina

aortic aneurysms

possible heart failure

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It may also effect the brain causing:

seizures

memory problems

personality changes

dementia

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If a pregnant women has syphilis and leaves it untreated throughout the pregnancy, this can cause her newborn to have congenital syphilis. The infection spreads from mother to baby across the placenta. Babies born with congenital syphilis may suffer from bone damage, severe anemia, rashes, or even nerve problems which may lead to blindness or deafness. Typically 40% of babies who are born with congenital syphilis can be stillborn or later die as a newborn from the infection.

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Syphilis can be treated with a penicillin injection, or sometimes penicillin in pill form taken orally.

an early stage syphilis only calls for one injection of penicillin

a late stage syphilis calls for one shot every week for three weeks

penicillin may also be given through an IV given once a week for three weeks

after treatment, the person should continue follow up blood tests to make sure the infection is cleared

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Some ways to prevent the spread of syphilis would be for each partner to get tested regularly and to use male and female forms of protection.

Although those methods do somewhat help prevent the spread of syphilis, they are not 100% guaranteed to prevent someone from being infected. In order to make sure you don't catch syphilis or any other STI would be to only engage in a monogamous mutual relationship with someone you trust. While that may be true and effective in most cases, the only 100% guaranteed effective form of prevention is abstinence.