Syphilis – Causes and Symptoms
Pradeep Chauhan
July 11, 2008
Syphilis is caused by a spirochete, Treponema pallidum. A spirochete is a thin spiral- or coil-shaped bacterium that enters the body through the mucous membranes or breaks in the skin. In 90% of cases, the spirochete is transmitted by sexual contact. Transmission by blood transfusion is possible but rare; not only because blood products are screened for the disease, but also because the spirochetes die within 24 hours in stored blood.
Syphilis is a persistent, highly infectious STD that can have devastating consequences. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium (spirochete) Treponema pallidum, which can live almost anywhere in the body and spreads rapidly. The disease progresses through four distinct stages—primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary—each of which can last for several years. Serious health complications are common and can be fatal in late-stage, or tertiary, syphilis.
Syphilis has a myriad of presentations and can mimic many other infections and immune-mediated processes in advanced stages. Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores occur mainly on the external genitals, anus, or in the rectum. Syphilis can also be passed from mother to infant during pregnancy causing a disease called congenital syphilis. Any active person can be infected with syphilis, although there is a greater incidence among young people between the ages of 15 and 30 years.
The infection can be transmitted from contact with the ulcer which teems with spirochetes. If the ulcer is outside of the vagina or on the male's scrotum, condoms may not prevent transmission of the infection by contact. Similarly, if the ulcer is in the mouth, merely kissing the infected individual can spread the infection. The ulcer can resolve without treatment after three to six weeks, but the disease can recur months later as secondary syphilis if the primary stage is not treated.
Causes
Syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with a bacteria-filled sore or rash on a person already infected with the disease. The bacteria that cause syphilis are transmitted most often during sexual activity with a partner who has a sore (chancre). Syphilis can also be transmitted through direct contact with the rash in the second stage of the disease. The bacteria that cause syphilis can spread from an infected mother to her fetus, or more rarely, from a tainted blood transfusion. Because syphilis can be transmitted from mother to fetus in utero, pregnant women are tested for syphilis infection as part of routine prenatal care.
The symptoms of syphilis occur in stages called primary, secondary and late. The first or primary sign of syphilis is usually a sore(s), which is painless and appears at the site of initial contact. It may be accompanied by swollen glands, which develop within a week after the appearance of the initial sore. The sore may last from one to five weeks, and may disappear by itself even if no treatment is received. Approximately six weeks after the sore first appears, a person will enter the second stage of the disease.
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Syphilis is a persistent, highly infectious STD that can have devastating consequences. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium (spirochete) Treponema pallidum, which can live almost anywhere in the body and spreads rapidly. The disease progresses through four distinct stages—primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary—each of which can last for several years. Serious health complications are common and can be fatal in late-stage, or tertiary, syphilis.
Syphilis has a myriad of presentations and can mimic many other infections and immune-mediated processes in advanced stages. Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore. Sores occur mainly on the external genitals, anus, or in the rectum. Syphilis can also be passed from mother to infant during pregnancy causing a disease called congenital syphilis. Any active person can be infected with syphilis, although there is a greater incidence among young people between the ages of 15 and 30 years.
The infection can be transmitted from contact with the ulcer which teems with spirochetes. If the ulcer is outside of the vagina or on the male's scrotum, condoms may not prevent transmission of the infection by contact. Similarly, if the ulcer is in the mouth, merely kissing the infected individual can spread the infection. The ulcer can resolve without treatment after three to six weeks, but the disease can recur months later as secondary syphilis if the primary stage is not treated.
Causes
Syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with a bacteria-filled sore or rash on a person already infected with the disease. The bacteria that cause syphilis are transmitted most often during sexual activity with a partner who has a sore (chancre). Syphilis can also be transmitted through direct contact with the rash in the second stage of the disease. The bacteria that cause syphilis can spread from an infected mother to her fetus, or more rarely, from a tainted blood transfusion. Because syphilis can be transmitted from mother to fetus in utero, pregnant women are tested for syphilis infection as part of routine prenatal care.
The symptoms of syphilis occur in stages called primary, secondary and late. The first or primary sign of syphilis is usually a sore(s), which is painless and appears at the site of initial contact. It may be accompanied by swollen glands, which develop within a week after the appearance of the initial sore. The sore may last from one to five weeks, and may disappear by itself even if no treatment is received. Approximately six weeks after the sore first appears, a person will enter the second stage of the disease.
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