Syphilis is a systemic, sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum and it can cause serious health problems if it is not treated.
Syphilis has been a major public health problem both before the antibiotic era and now, with the increase of acquired immunodeficiency states and unprotected sex.
Two means of syphilis transmission: sexual and vertical.
*Sexual: Person to person via vaginal, anal, or oral sex through direct contact with syphilis sores or lesions, known as a chancre.
*Vertical: From infected mother to her unborn baby via the bloodstream.
*Syphilis can also be passed on by blood transfusion and injecting drug use (sharing needles) but this is very rare.
Syphilis can develop in stages:
*the early stage (primary and secondary syphilis)
*the latent stage
*the late stage (also called tertiary syphilis).
Early and late syphilis may cause symptoms, while in latent syphilis there are no symptoms. If the person do get symptoms, he might notice the following at different stages.
Syphilis infection
