Oh, my, this is personal, but heck, we're all friends here, right?

One of the forms for a Retirement Visa application is the medical certificate showing no prohibitive diseases. That prohibited disease list includes: "Third step of Syphilis".

Embarrassing as it is, I must admit that I was, how to say, exposed to and treated for syphilis in my youth. Once that happens, one carries syphilis antibodies for the rest of their life, so will be detected in a blood test.

Does anybody know what "Third step" of syphilis is? I'm hoping it means something like a current infection of syphilis, but not sure. A google of "third step of syphilis" merely gives a list of documents about the medical requirements for the O-A visa.

Thanks in advance for any clarification of the term.

Tertiary

Without treatment, syphilis bacteria may spread, leading years later to serious internal organ damage and death.

Some of the signs and symptoms of tertiary syphilis include:

* Neurologic problems. These may include stroke; infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord (meningitis); poor muscle coordination; numbness; paralysis; deafness or visual problems; personality changes; and dementia.

* Cardiovascular problems. These may include bulging (aneurysm) and inflammation of the aorta — your body's major artery — and of other blood vessels.

# Fever

# Fatigue: When to rest, when to worry

# Stroke

# Meningitis

# Dementia: Not always Alzheimer's

# Aortic aneurysm

As usual, lopburi, thanks for your help!

I am horrible at googling. I never thought of using "tertiary" instead of "third".

Based on that definition, which does not contain persecution complex nor paranoia, I guess I'll pass the test! :-)

Sorry I seem to have played Truth or Dare on this public forum!