Syphilis : Articles

Syphilis is an easily spread infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum.

Syphilis is an infectious systemic disease that may be either congenital or acquired through sexual contact or contaminated needles.

A sexually transmitted disease that, if untreated, can cause permanent damage to the heart and central nervous system. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STDs) caused by an organism called Treponema pallidum. The incidence of syphilis among adolescents has risen dramatically in recent years, yet because most adolescents infected with syphilis have no symptoms, the growing nature of the problem is not obvious. Syphilis is spread by sexual intercourse, by kissing, and by touching infected sores. Left untreated, syphilis can cause serious permanent damage to the heart and to the central nervous system. For these reasons, all sexually active adolescents should be routinely screened for syphilis with a blood test called VDRL or RPR. At the onset of infection, a painless sore called a chancre sometimes appears, usually in the genital area. If an adolescent infected with syphilis develops a chancre, it will disappear in a few weeks even without treatment. The disease, however, will continue to progress. Syphilis is treated with penicillin or another antibiotic, either injected or by mouth. All sexual partners should also be tested for syphilis, and an adolescent being treated for syphilis should abstain from sexual activity. Follow-up blood tests should be performed every three months to confirm that the cure is complete.

People don’t talk as much about syphilis today as they did in the past. But people still become infected with syphilis, and it can cause very serious problems.

Syphilis is an infectious systemic disease that may be either congenital or acquired through sexual contact or contaminated needles.

Syphilis is an infectious systemic disease that may be either congenital or acquired through sexual contact or by exposure to contaminated needles.