Several hours following treatment of early stages of syphilis individuals may undergo a febrile reaction called Jarish-Herxheimer reaction. Symptoms of this reaction include:
Fever
Chills
Headache
Nausea
General feeling of being ill (malaise)
Generalized joint aches (arthralgia)
Generalized muscle aches (myalgia)
These symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours.
Follow-up blood tests must be done at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months to ensure the infection has been eliminated. There must be abstinence from sexual conduct until 2 follow-up tests have indicated that the infection has been cured. Syphilis is extremely contagious in the primary and secondary stages.
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