What is a common symptom of tertiary syphilis?

Tertiary syphilis is a late stage of syphilis that can occur years after the initial infection if it remains untreated. A hallmark of this stage is the development of gummas, which are soft, tumor-like growths that can occur in various tissues, including the skin, bones, and internal organs. These gummas are essentially a manifestation of the body's immune response to the ongoing infection and represent a form of granulomatous inflammation.

While chancres are associated with the primary stage of the infection and a rash can be seen in secondary syphilis, they do not occur during the tertiary phase. Fever can be associated with many infectious diseases and not specifically linked to tertiary syphilis. Gummas are therefore the most characteristic symptom of tertiary syphilis, indicating a more severe and prolonged course of the disease.